“You could have grown cold, but you grew courageous instead. You could have given up, but you kept on going. You could have seen obstacles, but you called them adventures. You could have called them weeds, but instead you called them wildflower. You could have died a caterpillar, but you fought on to be a...Read More

“But shame is like a wound that is never exposed and therefore never heals.” ~Andreas Eschbach Shame. Everybody has it. Nobody wants to talk about it. The less we talk about it, the more power it has over us. Shame goes to the core of a person and makes them feel there is something inherently wrong...Read More

“Health is not just about what you’re eating. It’s also about what you’re thinking and saying.” A virus is spreading across the globe. Schools are shut down. People are out of work. Grocery stores are empty. Weddings, graduations, vacations, a day in court—canceled. This is the ultimate test in emotional resilience. Uncertainty is one of...Read More

“We think we are our thinking, and we even take that thinking as utterly ‘true,’ which removes us at least two steps from reality itself.” ~Richard Rohr Do you frequently obsess over worst-case scenarios? Do you struggle to think well of yourself or others? Are you frequently stressed, anxious, or depressed? You may be suffering...Read More

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” ~Nelson Mandela It’s a cold winter day. As I plunge my hand down into the wax paper bag, I fully expect to find another bite or two. But, alas, there are only crumbs. A distinct wave of sadness...Read More

Stress and depression can ruin your holidays and hurt your health. Being realistic, planning ahead and seeking support can help ward off stress and depression. The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests — stress and depression. And it’s no wonder. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining,...Read More

With the holidays just around the corner you may be wondering how you can stay sober with parties, dinners, and social gatherings. Whether you are newly sober or 5 years into your recovery, it can be difficult to gear up for sobriety during the holidays. Holidays are also a time when people reunite with family...Read More

When fighting addictions of any kind there are many important elements that support sobriety, but one of the most crucial ways to prevent relapse is by creating and maintaining healthy routines. In my experience, when you are missing aspects of your personal healthy routines, you are more susceptible to unhealthy thoughts, damaging choices, and most important, relapse. What Happens...Read More

Anyone can help stop the stigma of substance abuse. A major obstacle to addiction recovery, stigma, is a set of negative beliefs that a group or society holds about a topic or group of people. Stigma results in prejudice, avoidance, rejection, and discrimination against people who have a socially undesirable trait such as drug abuse or...Read More