PinnedRebuilding Trust in RecoveryTrust can be an elusive thing, but we know when we have it and we know when it’s gone. The other day someone told me their goal was to “earn back the trust I have lost.” In recovery from addiction, return to trusting can be a long road. When did…5 min read
Published in Beautiful Hangover·Apr 6, 2021When Family Alcoholism Impacts Relationships“Loving connection is the only safety nature ever offers us.” -Dr. Sue Johnson — We aren’t big mammals with sharp talons or teeth. We are social creatures and pack animals that rely on our connections and communities for survival. Even if we sometimes feel alone or isolated, there is a vast network of people who help us in small and big ways: making our…ACA6 min read
Published in AINYF…Alcohol is NOT Your Friend·Mar 24, 2021Is Alcoholism Really an Allergy?“We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy.” -Dr. William Silkworth, AA Big Book One of my frustrations with Alcoholics Anonymous has been the naming of alcohol use disorder as an allergy. I have…Alcoholism4 min read
Mar 11, 2021Geographical Solutions“Wherever you go, there you are.” -Jon Kabat-Zinn “Always the dream was somewhere else, further off, and I took a series of geographical cures in search of myself.” -Alcoholic Anonymous, p.338 When I was around 25, I embarked on what my father would later dub my “Magical Mystery Tour.” I…Recovery3 min read
Feb 27, 2021Silver Linings of the PandemicWhile the pandemic has been an enormous challenge for many, some silver linings exist. For those getting sober, the year of no parties, sporting events, or packed bars has been a welcome reprieve. Those getting newly sober often worry about how to manage socializing with friends and family. “I don’t…2 min read
Feb 21, 2021Step One“We admitted we were powerless over ______________ and that our lives had become unmanageable.” Step One in the Twelve Steps can be a tough pill to swallow. No one really likes to admit powerlessness, especially in our individualistic culture. The American way tends to value the kind of bootstrapping that…4 min read