There are those who would argue that addiction is a choice, and not a disease. There are those who would tell you that it’s simply a matter of choosing to stop—they say an alcoholic can put the bottle down at any time, and simply walk in the other direction. The people who speak these misguided statements have … Read More
Some were just too scary: heroin, meth, LSD and ecstasy, to name a few. Pills though—prescription pills, didn’t fall into the “scary” category in my alcohol-pickled mind. Made in pharmaceutical plants and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, stuff like narcotic capsules, tablets and liquids seemed like a pretty safe bet. I had discovered that alcohol alone … Read More
When the principles of 12-Step recovery began to seep into my everyday life, I also learned to appreciate how my new way of living had enabled me to cope with life’s other challenges. My earliest challenge in recovery was simple: not drinking. Nothing else mattered. I knew, that if I picked up a drink, all … Read More
In a shocking course of events, Oscar winner Robin Williams—a man who made America smile—died in his California home yesterday. The cause of death appears to be suicide. In recent months, we’ve had to say goodbye to several beloved public figures who also battled demons: Philip Seymour Hoffman Cory Monteith Chris Kelly And now, we … Read More
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” —Reinhold Niebuhr Feeling a tad courageous and a bit wiser, I left rehab with sighs, a few tears and an awful sense of trepidation. Unlike some of the others that I … Read More
As a child we accept most everything around us as normal. We just don’t know or can’t perceive the difference. Mommy and Daddy love us, only sometimes they don’t. Mommy and Daddy make sure we have meals to eat and clean clothes to wear; only sometimes they don’t. Mommy and Daddy praise my art work … Read More
“The people he met, the places he passed, were all steps in his journey, and he kept a place inside his heart for each of them.” –Rachel Joyce Samuel—a blacksmith Samuel is a blacksmith. His hands are gnarled and permanently gray. For years he has watched as horses trot toward him and away from him. … Read More
Ah yes, that wonderful Disney movie that little girls everywhere have memorized and that has cemented the Oscar-winning song in our heads. (Are you singing it already?) Well, Frozen reminds me of addiction. And I’m not talking about the trap of addiction this movie has on your eight-year-old daughter. If you’ve seen Frozen or know the storyline, did you … Read More
What is it like to go to rehab? What is your biggest fear about coming to rehab? What even is rehab? When asked, many of Duffy’s guests replied that their biggest fear was the unknown. What should I expect? Will I like it? And no wonder people worry. When most people think of rehab, they … Read More
I recently finished re-reading 12 Stupid Things that Mess Up Recovery by Allen Berger, a recovery classic for people in early recovery. I almost forgot what a great book it was. Allen Berger condenses twelve common pitfalls that can mess up recovery and teaches us how to avoid them with the clarity and wisdom of a man with … Read More
