Progress is Progress... Mile or a Millimeter

  Rethinking Addiction: A Counselor's Journey from Recovery to Revolutionary Thinking Picture this: there I was, fresh from my stint as a treatment specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, where I'd mastered the fine art of drill sergeant-style rehabilitation (because nothing says "recovery" quite like being barked at to get your life together). I found myself sitting in my first staff meeting at a residential treatment center, armed with my personal recovery experience and the kind of rigid structure that only working in corrections can drill into your soul. Talk about culture shock - I'd traded my corrections clipboard for a treatment center's manual of absolutes, only to find they had more in common than anyone would care to admit. The message being hammered home was crystal clear: abstinence or death, addiction is a lifelong disease, and if you even think about deviating from this doctrine, you might as well hand your clients their relapse ...

  When Your Counselor's Been There: The Raw Truth About Being on Both Sides of the Desk I used to count shots, hits, milligrams. Now I count days of not using meth, opiates, benzos and collections of other what I used to think were “fun” treats. And somewhere between those two realities, I found myself on both sides of the counselor's desk – first as the client trying to keep my shit together, then as the professional helping others do the same. Plot twist, right? Here's the thing about being both a recovering addict and an addiction counselor in rural Wisconsin: it's complicated. Like, "trying to explain TikTok to your grandma" complicated. When you live in a small town, everyone knows everyone's business. The person you're counseling today might have been the same person who watched you stumble out of the local bar five years ago or read about your criminal enterprises in the local papers. That's not just awkward – it's a masterclass in...

  Love and Addiction: When Your Brain Can't Tell the Difference Between Romance and Rehab Let's talk about love and addiction - two things that can make you lose your mind, empty your bank account, and have you crying in a Walmart parking lot at 3 AM. As someone who's been both a substance abuse counselor and a card-carrying member of the "my ex probably deserves their own DSM category" club, I've seen these parallels from every angle possible. The Science of Love: Your Brain on Romance (Spoiler: It's a Mess) Remember that feeling of being high? Well, your brain literally can't tell the difference between that and falling in love. Both flood your system with dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine - nature's own chemical cocktail that makes you feel invincible while simultaneously destroying your ability to make rational decisions. It's like your brain threw a party and forgot to invite your common sense. When you fall in love, your dopamine le...

Finding Your Tribe When AA Isn't Your Vibe: A Rebel's Guide to Recovery Support Let's talk about support systems, shall we? And no, I don't mean your cousin's Facebook group where Karen posts daily affirmations and everyone pretends to care. Here's the thing about recovery, personal change, or whatever you want to call your attempt at not being a mess anymore: The standard playbook doesn't work for everyone. Shocking, I know. While Dave from accounting might thrive in his daily Zoom support meetings, some of us would rather eat glass than stare at Brady Bunch squares of strangers talking about their feelings. The Struggle Is Real (Especially When You're Really Rural) If you live in Nowhere, Population: Cows, your options might seem limited. According to recent studies, rural residents face significant disparities in accessing mental health and recovery support . But here's where it gets interesting: Rural communities are getting creative, and some of...