Emotional Intelligence: The Secret Superpower of Recovery Let's talk about feelings. I know, I know, it sounds like the start of a cheesy rom-com or a bad 90s boy band song. But hear me out. See, most of us in recovery spent years trying to drown, numb, or just generally avoid our feelings like they were a bad ex. And it makes sense, right? If you've got a truckload of trauma and a side of toxic crap in your emotional backpack, the last thing you want to do is dig through all that. But here's the thing: you can't avoid your feelings forever. And honestly, that's a good thing. See, your feelings are like your body's built-in GPS. They're always trying to tell you something - that you're safe, that you're in danger, that you're about to make a huge mistake, or that you just found something amazing. The problem is, most of us never learned how to freaking read the map. That's where emotional intelligence comes in. Emotional intelligence is just ...

The Anthem of a Broken Generation: Unpacking Jelly Roll's "I Am Not Okay" I'm not crying, you're crying. Okay, fine. I'm crying. Jelly Roll's new song "I Am Not Okay" has me sobbing like I just found out I'm allergic to beer. But these ain't sad tears, folks. They're the ugly, cathartic, someone-pass-the-tissues kind of tears that come with finally feeling seen. Jelly Roll's raw, unflinching lyrics are a gut punch to anyone who's ever wrestled with their demons. And let's be real, that's most of us. Addiction, depression, anxiety - those are just the buzzwords. The real struggle is the feeling of being broken, of being so lost you can't see a way out of the dark. But here's the magic of Jelly Roll: he's not just surviving, he's thriving. And he's bringing all of us messed-up, still-figuring-it-out folks along with him. With every heartbreaking lyric and soaring chorus, he's screaming one thing l...

Learning to Trust Myself Again: A Wild Ride of Recovery, CBT, and Not Totally Screwing Things Up I used to trust myself about as much as I'd trust a raccoon with my lunch. Meaning, not at all. See, when you're deep in the throes of addiction, your internal compass is about as reliable as a drunk trying to give directions. You're constantly second-guessing, overthinking, and wondering if you're just messing everything up (spoiler alert: you probably are). But, as the fog of substances starts to lift, you're left staring at this stranger in the mirror – yourself. And you have to start figuring out how to trust that guy/gal again. It's like trying to relearn how to ride a bike, except the bike's on fire and there's a cliff involved. At first, it feels like you're making everything up as you go along. "Should I eat this sandwich? Is that a yes or a no?" It's exhausting. But slowly, you start to tune back into that little voice inside your h...