Addiction Recovery Services

Addiction Recovery Services Our mission is to provide evidence based group counseling, family education and medication management for people with addiction and mental health symptoms.

01/28/2026

Sometimes the weight of addiction comes from believing it’s who you are.

Ben Affleck speaks to something many people quietly carry: the idea that addiction, or any compulsive behavior, can start to feel like the thing that defines you.

But struggling doesn’t mean that’s who you are.

For many people, substances, food, gambling, or other behaviors become ways of coping with pain. Attemps to survive something they don’t yet know how to handle differently.

Recovery isn’t about a label. It’s about remembering you’re a person first.

Your habits are not your identity.
Your struggle is not your worth.
And your past doesn’t get to decide who you become.

If you’re questioning your relationship with substances or feeling stuck, our programs are here to support you. Without judgment, pressure, or labels.

arsnh.com

The new U.S. dietary guidelines removed clear daily alcohol limits for the first time since 1980, and health experts are...
01/27/2026

The new U.S. dietary guidelines removed clear daily alcohol limits for the first time since 1980, and health experts are sounding the alarm.

Without numerical guidelines or mention of cancer risks, millions could be misled about what “safe drinking” really means. Meanwhile, over 3 million deaths were linked to substance use in 2019, and 400 million people worldwide live with substance use disorders.

What does this mean for people in recovery, or those on the edge? It might be time to start a more honest conversation.

At ARS, we provide structured outpatient care for people who want help changing their relationship with alcohol or other substances, without stepping away from work or family.

Explore our programs at arsnh.com

01/24/2026

You might not see it but your recovery means more than you think.

There are good days, hard days, and quiet days where it feels like nothing is changing. But progress isn’t always loud. Sometimes it shows up simply as choosing to keep going.

Even when you’re doubting yourself, your consistency, your honesty, and your effort can quietly give someone else hope.

Your journey matters more than you realize, especially to those still finding theirs.

If you’re looking for support along the way, we’re here when you’re ready.
Learn more at arsnh.com

01/20/2026

Our Intensive Outpatient Program is designed to support you while you continue living your life. You attend structured therapy sessions, build practical coping skills, and receive clinical support — all while staying at home, working, and staying connected to your family.

With flexible scheduling, in-person and virtual options, and most insurance plans accepted, our goal is to remove barriers and help you stay consistent.

If you’re looking for addiction treatment that fits your life instead of pulling you away from it, learn more at the link in bio.

When was the last time you were truly a beginner at something?As kids, starting something new feels exciting. But as we ...
01/17/2026

When was the last time you were truly a beginner at something?

As kids, starting something new feels exciting. But as we grow up and become more aware of judgment and self-doubt, that excitement often gets replaced with pressure and comparison.

It can be discouraging when you’re just starting out and everyone else seems so far ahead. You notice their stability, their calm, their confidence.... it’s easy to wonder if you’ll ever get there.

That’s why comparison is one of the hardest challenges in early recovery.

So how do you handle comparison in early recovery?
Short answer: perspective.

When that doubting voice starts creeping in, here are a few things to remind yourself:

1. Reframe
Comparison isn’t working against you, it’s information.
The people you admire aren’t proof that you’re behind. They’re proof that change is possible.

2. Reality check
No one starts where they end up.
They didn’t begin there, they grew into it.
One choice. One moment. One step at a time.

3. Continuity
Progress is built, not skipped.
Where they are now is built on where you are today.
No shortcuts. No skipping steps.

4. Foundation
The beginning matters.
Progress doesn’t erase the early days... it comes from them.
You don’t outgrow the early steps. You build on them.

This is also why support matters.
Everyone ahead of you was once exactly where you are.

If comparison has been weighing on you, keep going.
You’re not late.
You’re not behind.
You’re on your way.

Whether it’s recovery or learning something new, there’s nothing wrong with being a beginner. In fact that’s where growth starts.

If you’d like to learn more about how we support you through early recovery and beyond, visit arsnh.com.

Feedback like this means a lot to our team.At Addiction Recovery Services, our programs are built for people who want re...
01/16/2026

Feedback like this means a lot to our team.

At Addiction Recovery Services, our programs are built for people who want real support while continuing to live their lives. Our Intensive Outpatient Program offers structured therapy, practical skill-building, and clinical care designed to fit around work, family, and everyday responsibilities — not pull you away from them.

Recovery doesn’t have to mean disappearing or doing it alone. It can mean having the right support, at the right level, at the right time.

If you or someone you love is still struggling, reaching out can be the first step toward something more stable and sustainable. We’re here when you’re ready.

arsnh.com

01/14/2026

Brad Pitt and Dax Shepard on getting sober—two people who actually met at an AA meeting. What stands out isn’t advice or some big insight. It’s how open he was.

He didn’t have it figured out. He was just willing to listen, try something new, and admit he needed a reset.

That moment—when you’re tired enough to be open—is where a lot of real change starts.

There’s no one right way to get sober. But being honest with yourself and not trying to do it alone can make a real difference.

If this resonates and you’re curious about support that fits into real life, learn more about our programs or reach out for a free, confidential consultation.

Link in bio.

Stress can mimic drugs in the brain.Neuroscience shows that relapse is a trained, conditioned brain response that activa...
01/14/2026

Stress can mimic drugs in the brain.

Neuroscience shows that relapse is a trained, conditioned brain response that activates under pressure and pain.

One experiment changed how addiction is understood.

In laboratory studies, rats were trained to press a lever to receive co***ne. With unlimited access, they pressed compulsively. Sometimes until they collapsed.

When the drug was removed, the behavior stopped. The brain adapted. It appeared the learning was complete.

Until stress entered the picture.

No drugs. No cues. Just stress.

The rats immediately returned to pressing the lever. Stress alone reinstated the drug-seeking pattern—no substance, no craving triggers, just the body under pressure.

The brain treated stress like the drug itself.

It wasn’t withdrawal. It wasn’t desire. It was a neural circuit reactivating exactly as it had been trained to do. Stress had become a substitute for the substance and the pattern returned automatically.

The brain had learned something powerful:
stress = dopamine relief.

This helps explain why addiction can persist even after long periods of abstinence. The brain isn’t making a moral choice, it’s executing a survival pattern. Once pain becomes linked to quick relief, future stress can trigger the same response automatically.

It also explains why relapse can happen when life improves. When vigilance drops and coping systems relax, the brain may return to what it learned works fastest. Not because of failure, but because of conditioning.

Humans aren’t different, just more complex.

Trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and overwhelm all increase addiction risk. Substances often become tools for regulating emotions when safer coping skills aren’t yet in place.

That’s why recovery that ignores stress regulation is incomplete.

Sustainable recovery teaches the brain how to tolerate stress and safety without returning to compulsive reward-seeking. That’s where real, lasting change begins.

When we understand this, treatment can focus on skill-building, nervous system regulation, and learning new responses to stress. Not shame or punishment.

If you’re looking for evidence-based addiction treatment that addresses the real drivers of relapse, our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Private Counseling are designed to support lasting recovery in real life.

Learn more at arsnh.com or reach out for a free, confidential consultation.

01/10/2026

Sobriety is practiced, not achieved.

It’s built one step at a time, especially on the ordinary days.

If you need support staying consistent, learn more about our recovery programs at the link in bio.

01/08/2026

Motivation fades. That’s human.

Addiction is driven by patterns, habits — and patterns change through structure, support, and consistency, not willpower alone.

If you’re looking for support that helps you build real consistency, we offer outpatient recovery programs built around structure and skill-building.

Dopamine Drips vs. Dopamine DumpsNot all dopamine is the same, and in recovery the difference matters.Dopamine drips are...
01/07/2026

Dopamine Drips vs. Dopamine Dumps

Not all dopamine is the same, and in recovery the difference matters.

Dopamine drips are slower, steadier releases that help regulate your nervous system over time.
They support emotional balance, focus, motivation, and long-term wellbeing.

Examples include:
🏃‍♂️ Exercise
☀️ Sunlight
🤝 Connection
🎵 Music
🧘 Meditation
😴 7+ hours of sleep

Dopamine dumps create intense spikes followed by sharp crashes.
They can increase cravings, irritability, anxiety, and compulsive patterns.

Common examples include:
🍷 Alcohol
💊 Drugs
🚬 Ni****ne
🍩 Sugar
🎮 Video games
📱 Social media
🎰 Gambling

Why this matters in recovery:
Addiction thrives on dopamine spikes.
Recovery happens when the brain learns to regulate and find balance again.

When your brain isn’t constantly chasing spikes, it can relearn how to feel calm, clear, and motivated — without extremes. This process takes time and support.

Recovery isn’t about eliminating pleasure.
It’s about changing the source of it.

Small, steady choices — repeated daily — are what rebuild balance.

If you’re looking for structured support to help you build healthier habits and lasting change, our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Private Counseling are designed to help.

Learn more at arsnh.com.

As we step into a new year, we’re taking a moment to honor the resilience, growth, and commitment it takes to keep going...
01/01/2026

As we step into a new year, we’re taking a moment to honor the resilience, growth, and commitment it takes to keep going. Especially when the path isn’t easy.

At ARS, we’re grateful for every person who trusted us this year. For the hard conversations, the quiet wins, the setbacks, the progress, and the courage it takes to show up day after day.

To our community, our clients, and their families: thank you for letting us walk alongside you. We’re here with you as this new chapter begins. One step, one day at a time.

Happy New Year 💚

Address

1 Bayside Road Ste 110
Greenland, NH
03840

Telephone

+19782285853

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About ARSNH

Addiction Recovery Services (ARS) of New Hampshire provides Intensive Outpatient (IOP) offerings in two locations: Salem, NH, and Portsmouth, NH.

The Mission of Addiction Recovery Services is to provide accessible and effective group therapy, family education and medication management for addiction and mental health symptoms provided by compassionate licensed professionals.

Call one of our trained admissions counselors to learn more. 814.515.9896