Recognizing 15 Years Recovered Today
Today I celebrate an anniversary of 15 years of sobriety from alcohol. I cannot state any revelations at this milestone, except to say that I’ve
August 22, 2020
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What’s in the Language?
One of the most painful aspects of trauma and/or addiction is that becoming personally acquainted with it often shows us just how separate we are
August 18, 2020
Happy Birthday Relinquishment Day to Me!
It’s my birthday today, and a significant one at that – I’ve turned 60, which is a nice round number and one that I get
August 12, 2020
Your Recovery is Your Recovery
If you’re new to recovery, you might be under the impression that the only way to it is via a 12-step program. Whether you search
August 11, 2020
I Don’t Have a Hole in my Soul
I got physically sober in a hospital setting, which was followed by a residential treatment stay. There, I was introduced to a 12-step program, which
August 3, 2020
Where to Go Now?
Consider these statistics from the recent AddictionPolicy.org COVID-19 survey: Twenty percent of respondents reported increased substance use since the COVID-19 pandemic began. One in three
July 27, 2020
Are You Screening for Trust Issues?
Many people in recovery have suffered a unique trauma that was often a cause of their addiction. Usually, that trauma stems from childhood and the
July 20, 2020
Slow Down
In the past few months, many of us have been forced to really slow down. Whether we’ve lost our jobs, had them suspended, were told
July 13, 2020
Whose Recovery is Best?
Recently, there has been some upheaval in the recovery circles—especially the traditional ones, such as AA—about the article “The Patriarchy of Alcoholics Anonymous” by Holly
July 6, 2020
The False Glamor of Drunk
One of the biggest myths about alcohol and drinking is that it’s a glamorous pursuit that has fuelled creativity of many famous artists and writers.
June 29, 2020
Don’t Stay Stuck
There are certain emotions that are more damaging to our well-being than others. Those emotions are guilt, fear, and shame. Yet many of us inexplicitly
June 19, 2020
Feeling Sorry for Yourself vs
Feeling Sorry for Yourself
It’s a given that the stories of people with trauma are tragic. It’s how we deal with those tragedies that decide on how successfully we
June 12, 2020
Doing it Better?
I’ve noticed something on social media that’s reminded me of something that used to happen in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous: people boasting about the
June 7, 2020
AA Beyond Belief Podcast: Adoptees and Addiction
Does relinquishment and/or adoption make one more susceptible to addiction? Are they froms of trauma? What should relinquishees in recovery avoid, and what should they
June 6, 2020
Solutions, Not Problems
Like an addiction, recovery too is stigmatized. Not a lot of people share with the world that they’re in recovery from addiction or trauma. Unlike
June 2, 2020
Safe Spaces
As the world slowly starts to loosen some of the restrictions with stores and public spaces opening, people are worried about safety. It seems that
May 28, 2020
Where to Next?
As the world is cautiously discussing easing down some of the restrictions and reopening businesses and institutions, people in recovery have an interesting dilemma to
May 25, 2020
About Fear
One of the most prevailing emotions during this pandemic is fear. The threats that seemed so abstract before are now fully realized and real. People
May 22, 2020
It’s Not You – It’s Your Trauma
I’ve seen a lot of entrepreneurial and non-for-profit initiatives happening ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, and the lockdown. People are helping each other with
May 19, 2020
The Dangers of Boredom
One of the most difficult aspects of shelter-in-place orders is boredom. Anyone on social media can attest to that—people are posting funny memes that talk
May 15, 2020
