Recovery: The Gritty, Beautiful Journey to Rediscover Who We Really Are Recovery is more than a word—it’s a patchwork quilt of stories, each piece stitched with struggle, hope, and grit. I’m a former addict turned substance use disorder counselor, and I’ve been on both sides of this journey—the chaos and the calm. Now, I help others navigate the rough waters toward sobriety, and every day I’m reminded it’s not about perfection, but persistence. Why do we chase recovery? The reasons are as unique as the scars addiction leaves behind. Some of us want health back. Others want to mend relationships shattered by years of chaos. But beneath it all, we’re chasing something deeper: a piece of ourselves that addiction buried or broke—the part that remembers how to be whole. At its core, recovery is a radical act of rediscovery. It’s not just about quitting a substance; it’s about reclaiming life’s raw, messy beauty. It’s about facing your reflection—flaws and all—and deciding, “This is me, and ...

New logo, same me  I started my blog a little over a year ago, honestly just hoping someone out there might relate to the chaos inside my head (and maybe laugh once in a while). Turns out, sharing about addiction, recovery, mental health, stigma, and connection has taken me places I never saw coming—both online and in real life. If you haven’t checked out my blog yet, this is your official invitation. Yes, I write a lot about things people usually avoid at dinner parties. Yes, it can get uncomfortable. But let’s be real: change is uncomfortable, growth is uncomfortable, and pretending we’re all fine all the time? That’s just exhausting. So, take a breath. Poke around my blog. If you find yourself squirming a little, you’re probably in the right place. I’m a substance abuse counselor, but I’m also a person in recovery, which means I get it from both sides. Stick around. Maybe you’ll find something that clicks—or at least a decent joke about existential dread. Welcome to the new look...

  What I Wish My Therapist Knew About Meth: The Truth About Recovery, Cognition, and the Real Work Ahead Let’s get this out of the way: Meth doesn’t just wreck your life; it hijacks your brain, chews up your sense of self, and spits out something you barely recognize. For the folks who’ve never used, or for the “old school” providers still clinging to the Big Book and the 28-day miracle cure, meth is just another addiction. But for those of us who’ve lived it—and for the people trying to treat it now—we know it’s a whole different beast. I’ve been on both sides of this mess: As a person who’s walked into treatment with a brain full of static, and as a clinician watching desperate people try to claw their way out, only to hit the same brick walls over and over. In the world of residential treatment, especially in small clinics (hello, northern Wisconsin), the rules are written by people who haven’t spent a night in their own program. And honestly, it shows. The Meth Crash: Cognitive...