Progress is Progress... Mile or a Millimeter

Meth, Madness, and Misdiagnosis: Why We’re Getting It Wrong (and What It’s Really Like on the Inside) Welcome to the Meth Mind Maze If you want to know what it’s like to lose your grip on reality, just ask someone who’s been deep in meth addiction. No, really—ask them. They’ll probably tell you about the paranoia, the mood swings, the all-night “projects,” and, if they’re like me, maybe even a psychosis episode or two. Meth is everywhere in my community, and it’s not just a “problem drug”—it’s a mind-wrecker, a diagnosis confuser, and a destroyer of hope. Meth was my drug of choice. I have ADHD, so at first, meth felt like a miracle: I could focus, I could get stuff done, I could even sleep and eat (at least until I’d been up too long). But there’s a thin, invisible line between “tuned in” and “tweaked out.” Cross it, and you’re in the Meth Mind Maze—a place where you can’t trust your own thoughts, and nobody around you can tell what’s meth and what’s mental health. Psychosis, Paranoia...

Welcome to the Ping-Pong Championships If you’ve ever been “lucky” enough to bounce between jail and the psych ward, you know what I mean by “the Great American Ping-Pong Game.” It’s like the universe took a look at your mental health and addiction issues and said, “Let’s see how many times we can make this one ricochet off the institutions before something sticks.” Spoiler: nothing ever really sticks. The ball just keeps going. I’ve lived it. I’ve watched clients live it. I’ve sat in fluorescent-lit rooms with people who have racked up more intake assessments than traffic tickets, and I’ve seen that look in their eyes—the one that says, “Does anyone actually see me under all this paperwork?” The answer, half the time: not really. Meet “Jake”—The Human Ping-Pong Ball Let me introduce you to Jake (not his real name, but his story is all too real). Jake’s been in and out of the system since he was old enough to drive—hell, maybe before. He’s got a rap sheet with more pages than some peo...

My Brain Is a Bad Roommate: Living with Mental Health and Addiction in the Same Skull Welcome to the Worst Roommate Situation Ever If my brain were a roommate, I’d have called the cops on it by now. Picture this: a guy who never sleeps (thanks, meth), a neurotic who triple-checks every lock (hello, anxiety), a professional couch potato who won’t move off the couch or out of yesterday’s clothes (depression), and someone who can’t stop asking if you’re mad at them (dependent personality disorder). Oh, and codependency? She’s the one who organizes pity parties and never lets you RSVP “no.” It’s a full house up there, and not the fun kind with cheesy ’90s theme music and hugs at the end. Who’s Running This Circus? That’s my headspace. That’s recovery, for a lot of us. The wildest part? Half the time, I couldn’t tell if I was dealing with withdrawal, a mental health meltdown, or just another Tuesday with my internal circus. Was it psychosis, or just the world’s worst hangover? Was I anxious...

  Addiction Science for Counselors: How to Make Neuroscience Actually Make Sense (and Maybe Even Funny) Ever tried to explain dopamine to someone who thinks “brain science” is just what happens when you drink too much caffeine or energy drinks? If you’ve ever watched a client’s eyes glaze over when you say “neurotransmitter,” or you’ve fumbled through a metaphor about habit loops that landed about as well as a burly Northwoods person at a yoga retreat, this post’s for you. I’m not here to hand out a neuroscience lecture or to shame anyone for not knowing the difference between a synapse and a sandwich. I’m tired of seeing “brain talk” scare people off or make them feel broken. It doesn’t have to be that way. Let’s make addiction science feel as real as wet boots in November. Let’s give people something they can actually use. Why Brain Science Matters (But Only If You Can Use It) We owe our clients the truth—about the struggle, about hope, about what’s actually going on under the ho...

To the Next Wave—A Letter to the Ones Who’ve Been There Let’s be honest: nobody grows up dreaming of becoming a peer support specialist, recovery coach, or harm reduction advocate. Most of us didn’t even dream of surviving. But here we are, standing upright(ish), coffee in hand, and suddenly there’s a new conversation in the field—one that’s about us. Wisconsin’s catching up to what most of us have known for years: people with lived experience are the secret sauce in real recovery work. As of 2025, Medicaid here is rolling out new coverage for peer recovery coach services, which means agencies can finally hire people like you—and bill for your work, not just your war stories. Certified Peer Specialists in Wisconsin (yes, it’s a real title—and you get a certificate and everything) are now recognized professionals using their own histories to walk alongside people still in the trenches. There are even training programs, recertification requirements, and a growing demand for people who “g...