Tag Substance abuse
The other day, I ran into an old friend who has now been sober for quite a while. He’s enthusiastic about his recovery and tries to help others get into twelve-step programs. He said that he was talking to a… Continue Reading →
It’s important to me that people develop enough confidence in their own capability that they can meet any challenge in their lives. Part of what I’ve longed recognized is that people will accept one set of standards for their “professional”… Continue Reading →
Talking with someone struggling with an addiction can be frustrating. Not for the reasons that you might think, but because they’re so mired in self-hate and shame that almost every thought he or she utters is a projection of those… Continue Reading →
The other night, I was talking with someone about her struggles with anxiety. She was telling me that there are days that she can’t sit still for even a minute; her mind races and she has no control over her… Continue Reading →
I had been teaching at an in-patient treatment facility for over ten (10) months when one day, out of the clear blue sky, I was unceremoniously relieved of my duties. Without warning, the Director called me and said that, from… Continue Reading →
Recovery isn’t about flipping a switch or waving a magic wand. There are certain elements that must either be in place or be developed before recovery can happen. As much as we want addicts to just simply stop using whatever… Continue Reading →
One of the frustrating things about working with substance abuse are repeating scenarios. One such recurring theme is that of family roles and how the addict within a family tends to fill the scapegoat role. Often, families come to need… Continue Reading →
Dear Enabler, Look, I know your intentions are good. I KNOW that you think all of your “helping” is leading someone back to you from the abyss in which they swim. I get that your rescuing comes from the absolute… Continue Reading →
When people ask me questions about the addict in their life, the only thing I hear is, “How can I make my Addict behave in ways I can understand?” And the response to that question is: Seek to understand your… Continue Reading →
Talking with someone struggling with an addiction can be frustrating. Not for the reasons that you might think, but because they’re so mired in self-hate that almost every thought he or she utters is a projection of that self-hate. So,… Continue Reading →
