Progress is Progress... Mile or a Millimeter

  Shades Off: Ditching Negative Thoughts with a Dash of Dark Humor We've all been there - stuck in the quicksand of crappy thoughts, with our mental binoculars locked on the worst-case scenario. It's like trudging through a swamp while wearing sunglasses smeared with mud and pessimism. But what if you could wipe those lenses clean? Challenge those gloomy assumptions? Swap your Eeyore vision for something more realistic...and maybe even a little rose-tinted? The Dark Side of Negative Thinking Before we dive into the tools, let's talk about why it's so important to address those negative thought patterns in the first place. Getting stuck in the muck of negativity can have some serious consequences for both our mental and physical health. Mental Health: When we let negative thoughts run the show, it can worsen depression, anxiety, and a host of other mental health challenges. It's like spinning your wheels in the mud - you're not getting anywhere, but you're d...

  From Rock Bottom to Rising Confidence: The Journey of Self-Esteem in Recovery Self-esteem – everybody's favorite topic, right? Well, buckle up, folks, because we're about to dive into the messy, beautiful world of rebuilding pride and finding inner peace in recovery. And hey, we'll sprinkle in some dark humor along the way, because if you can't laugh at the absurdity of it all, you might just lose your mind. So, why is self-esteem such a big deal? Think of it as the engine of your recovery. With a healthy dose of self-esteem, you've got the power to keep moving forward, even when the road gets rough. But during active addiction, that engine gets trashed. We're talking sputtering, smoking, on the side of the road – it's a miracle the thing still moves at all. So, how do we get that engine roaring again? First, let's acknowledge that this isn't a quick fix. Rebuilding self-esteem takes time, patience, and a whole lot of kindness towards yourself. It...

  Recovery: It's Not a One-Size-Fits-All Sweater (The Extended Remix) You know those awful holiday sweaters your aunt insists on knitting for you? The ones with the garish reindeer and itchy yarn? Yeah, traditional recovery approaches can feel like those. Well-meaning, but a poor fit and kinda scratchy. I'm tired of the "my way or the highway" mentality plaguing the substance abuse treatment world. We've all encountered the zealots: "AA is the only path!" or "Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the devil!" It's enough to make you want to toss your recovery goals out the window and grab a bottle of... well, something. Here's the thing: we're not all knit from the same yarn. What works for your coworker, your neighbor, or that one guy from that one meeting might not work for you. And that's okay. More than okay – it's essential to understand. Recovery isn't about surviving; it's about living. It's finding a qual...

From Hell to Helping: Navigating the Challenges of Recovery in the Field They say those who can't do, teach. But what about those who've been to hell and back? Can they teach, counsel, or nurse? Should they? The question of individuals in recovery entering the helping professions is a complex one, filled with landmines, silver linings, and a whole lot of gray area. The Dark Side: Relapse Risks and Unfinished Business Let's get the scary stuff out of the way first. The helping professions aren't for the faint of heart, and they're certainly not a cakewalk for those in early recovery. The stress, the trauma, the endless needs of others...it's a recipe for disaster if you're not solid in your own sobriety. One moment of weakness, one boundaries slip, and you could be face-first in the booze or dope again. And this time, you're not just dragging yourself down, but also the vulnerable people relying on your care. There's also the matter of unfinished busi...

Lies, Damned Lies, and Addiction We've all been there - those of us who've danced with addiction, that is. The lies. Oh, the glorious, ridiculous, mind-boggling lies we tell ourselves and others. I know I have. And as a counselor, I've seen some doozies. But why? Why do we spin these tangled webs? And what happens when we finally stop? The Great Con (Our Minds): Addiction is a master manipulator. It convinces us we're getting away with something, that we're smarter than everyone else. I mean, come on, who wouldn't believe these gems? "I don't have an addiction." (Sure, and I'm the Queen of England.) "I can stop anytime I want to." (Just you wait, I'll quit tomorrow. Or next week. Or never.) "It hasn't changed me at all." (You mean besides the constant lying, stealing, and ruining relationships?) "I'm not as bad as [insert name]." (The classic "addiction Olympics" - because bronze in self-destr...

My 10-year-old son looked up from his Legos, curiosity in his eyes. "Mom, what's meth?" My heart skipped a beat. Already? I thought. But I took a deep breath and remembered the promise I made when I got sober: honesty, no matter how hard. A few days later, my 9-year-old asked, "What does it feel like when you get high?" I hesitated, not wanting to glorify the experience. But I knew I had to be honest. "It's like a fake sense of happiness," I explained. "But it's not real, and it doesn't last. And it led to a lot of pain and problems." Recovery is a journey, not a destination. And when you're a parent, that journey includes a roadmap of tough conversations. My kids were little when I got sober, but now, as pre-teens, they're asking questions – about drugs, about the past, and about their father, who's still struggling with addiction. The Hypocrisy Factor It feels hypocritical lecturing your kids about drugs when you...

As I sit here, reflecting on the completion of a project six years in the making, I am overwhelmed with a profound sense of pride, gratitude, and a renewed belief in the human capacity for resilience. This journey was not a straight line; it was a winding path filled with peaks of triumph and valleys of doubt. Yet, with unwavering dedication and an unrelenting commitment to my vision, I emerged victorious on the other side. The power of setting and achieving goals cannot be overstated. Goals give us direction, ignite our passions, and provide a measuring stick for our progress. Yet, the pursuit of long-term goals, the kind that span not months but years, tests our resolve like little else. It demands we tap into a deep well of inner strength, a resilience we may not have known we possessed. I've walked the walk. There were moments I questioned my ability, my worthiness, and the sheer practicality of this endeavor. I fantasized about shortcuts and loopholes, anything to hasten the f...