Connection, Confession, Consolation

For me, the steps of 12-steps programs were transformational. Learning how to make a connection to a higher power was a spiritual lifesaver. Meditation has been miraculous […]

Got stress? Who doesn’t? I just got back from a business trip and got home to find I have more work to do, construction on my building, dogs that need all kinds of care, and oh yeah, bills to pay. Not to mention, […]

When you first get sober, the only sober inspiration you need is not feel so shitty. Just the idea of shakes and withdrawals being over and having a clear head sounds like heaven. It seems impossible to get […]

In recovery, I’ve learned to apply my mental health boosters every day. I’m quick to squash negative thoughts, I almost never let myself wallow anymore, and when I’m blue, I have a list of small activities I can […]

From Outside Outline:

Buddhism, Stoicism, and Taoism all teach adherents to repeat particular chants or mantras to steady the mind. Only recently, though, have researchers begun to look into the power of this […]

From CNN:

Elton John already has a list of accomplishments to be proud of. On Monday, he hit another major milestone. The Grammy winner celebrated 29 years of being sober by looking back at a time he said he […]

Regulate in recovery? How to get that done every day? We joke about the HALT term. It’s the acronym for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, and it was created to help us stay centered as we move through our days.  My […]

From Psychology today:

Blacking out from drinking may be more dangerous than you think.

Alcohol-induced amnesia, more commonly referred to as “blacking out” occurs when an individual indulges in too muc […]

From Science Daily:

American teenagers and adults are more likely to try illegal or recreational drugs for the first time in the summer, a new study shows.

Led by researchers at NYU School of Medicine, the […]

Want to know if there are relationships fails with your significant other?  Everything may seem okay, but how many couples are really treating each other in the right ways?  Sure, I know some couples who seem to […]

We’re not in control of so many aspects of our lives. We can’t control what the other people in our lives are going to do, things can go wrong at work, and then there’s the weather… There’s a lot to manage in […]

I just spent HALF the day discussing my issue du jour with one sober sister then another. It began with a situation that made me uncomfortable… Wow, something made me uncomfortable. What a shocker. I immediately […]

If you stick around recovery groups for a while, you’ll eventually hear someone talk about growing up in recovery. That’s my story. When this all began, I simply needed to get sober and stay sober. What I did […]

How should we measure recovery results? I used to work for someone who would regularly remark, “I really don’t care how hard someone is trying, I only care about the results they get me.” This may be a good lin […]

Everyone’s talking about their routine for serenity. OK, maybe not everyone, but we are. What is serenity and why do you need it? Let’s define serenity because I love to define things.

Serenity is: the sta […]

Mental health tips can sound like a grueling ritual of self care that’s particularly hard for those in recovery from any kind of addiction. Feeling good, feeling serene, being happy are emotional states that have […]

Living with uncertainty is stressful. It literally goes against our fundamental human need to feel safe. If you’re someone who also suffers from anxiety, uncertainty can be paralyzing. The problem is, life is u […]