Promise #4: We will know peace. I entered Lakeview Health trying to negotiate a shorter stay than what was recommended. It wasn’t because I didn’t think I needed it – I was scared my family would learn what a horrible person I was. I felt I had to get home and control the narrative. My
Six Strategies for Staying Connected while Socially Distancing
To protect ourselves from the coronavirus, many of us are being told to isolate indoors when possible. This poses a unique challenge for those who suffer with addiction. Isolation is sneaky and it breeds addiction. What’s important to note about social distancing is that you can rephrase it so physical distancing to make it more
The 12 Things I Absolutely Love About Being Sober
Sometimes I feel like sobriety’s Andy Rooney – the ironic, curmudgeon of the blogging set, pointing out the pitfalls and snafus that no one else will tell the world about quitting drinking. I have been known to sniff at the sophomoric crowing of those who extoll the benefits of living clean and sober. As if,
All Emotions Welcome: Why Emotions are Okay
There’s no such thing as good emotions and bad emotions—they’re all what makes us human. Here’s why we should reevaluate how we view and treat emotions. As a society, we don’t try to hide the simple fact that we don’t like emotions. We view them as weak, as troublesome and useless, specifically if they are
When Your Partner is an Alcoholic
When you’ve known your partner to be someone who enjoys a few drinks now and then, even in your company, it can be difficult to face that there might be an underlying problem. Identifying whether or not your loved one has crossed the line and ventured into alcohol abuse can be the most challenging thing
The Art of Alcoholism
My friend Tall Girl and I were having an email conversation. She had just come back from New York and she was telling me about going to MOMA and seeing “her favorite Jackson Pollack” on display.I said, “People have favorite Pollocks? All those paint splotches just look the same to me. I like his dribbly
Energy Drink Addiction – Chasing the High
Energy Drink Addiction – Chasing the High We live in a volatile time. We are a society addicted to more. Every time one turns around there is another product that has been developed with a primary goal of addicting the consumer. We hunger for the quick fix from easy weight loss without lifestyle changes or
I Can be in Recovery AND be the Mom I Always Wanted to Be
There was a time where I knew I had a problem with alcohol, but I didn’t consider myself an alcoholic. I was able to go without drinking for long periods of time, I even pretended to be a “social drinker.” It wasn’t until I’d hit a drinking binge that would last for weeks at a
How to Answer Your Loved Ones Questions About Your Alcohol Addiction
It can be hard for someone to understand your situation when they have never experienced what you have gone or are going through. With that being said, explaining addiction to someone is a wildly complicated task. When family members confront you about your alcohol addiction it can be difficult to find the right words to
How do addicts tend to behave in relationships?
Being in a close relationship with an addict can be difficult – even if you’re unaware that the person you’re seeing is addicted to drugs. Drug users are crafty and can be very good at hiding their addiction from even those who are very close to them. Unfortunately, even those drug addicts who are very
