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
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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
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
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
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
Guest Column at AA Agnostica – Acknowledge Your Reality
Thanks to AAAgnostca for sharing my post Acknowledge Your Reality The only “good” thing about COVID-19 is that with the current measures of social distancing,
May 11, 2020
Happy Mother’s Day Moms
Mother’s Day can be a very confusing time for adoptees/ relinquishees. Why? Because our lives are complex. Our relationships, or lack of relationships, are complex.
May 8, 2020
It’s What We Do About Fear and Failure That Matters
With the “New Reality” we’ve been forced to accept comes many new expectations. It’s easy to feel discouraged or downright depressed abandoning those expectations we
May 5, 2020
Take Care of You and Yours
If you’re like many people, you’ve probably learned a few things about yourself during this time of a mandatory lockdown. Whether good or bad, some
May 2, 2020
Guest Column at AA Agnostica – It’s Not You, It’s Them: How Zealots Threaten Your Safety
Posted on April 29, 2020, at AA Agnostica.org: It seems to me that now, more than ever, religion and religious beliefs have been at the
April 29, 2020
Get Calm and Carry On: Patience, Endurance, and Persistence Required
Like many of us, I’ve been spending a lot more time on social media lately because of the pandemic, and I’ve been noticing a troubling
April 27, 2020
With Us or Against Us? No, This is NOT the Time to Fight
An on-line Facebook group that got a write-up in a major newspaper for its admirable ambition spiraled down in the space of three weeks. It
April 20, 2020
