Brad Pitt

Alcohol Ruins Relationships and Marriages, Even Brad Pitt’s

  In a spate of articles and talk show banter over the past few years, actor Brad Pitt has blamed his alcohol use for the demise of his marriage to Angelina Jolie. It seems there was a defining incident on a private plane when Brad was inappropriately rough with one of his children. I can […]

Chronic Pain and Mental Health – the Disparity in Care

In a new study published in the journal PAIN, researchers determined that those who live with pain are less likely to get help for mental health conditions, something that has been defined in previous studies. They also found that those living with chronic pain have a much higher prevalence of anxiety or depression than their […]

Is Alcohol Ruining My Marriage?

  In 2017, I wrote an article about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce and the role alcohol played in their relationship’s demise. Brangelina was secondary to the theme of the article, but it has gone on to garner more than 150,000 views over the years. I have updated it many times, and it remains […]

Myth Busting – Non-Drinkers Are Not BORING

  On a recent long road trip, I listened to the podcast Smartless for 17 hours. This was my only entertainment other than noting the decor in rest area bathrooms and the displays in roadside gas stations (which morphed from Slim Jim and antifreeze to oranges and baby alligator heads). Smartless is hosted by Jason […]

Hiking and Addiction Recovery – Nature’s Dynamic Duo

  September boasts both Michigan Trails Week and National Recovery Month. I could not let the month end without comment, because the combination of hiking and addiction recovery is brimming with mental health benefits! More than that, Michigan outdoors has been a lifesaver in my own recovery story. My glowing accounts of dune scaling and […]

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Life on Mars – Addiction Therapy Then and Now

  If you have yet to see the television show Life on Mars, in which a police officer is transported back 33 years from 2006 to 1973, you should. It does a credible job of comparing that distant past world to the near-present. For example, DNA testing, penetration of the blue wall, acknowledgment of โ€œcompassion […]

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Mrs. D- From New Zealand with Love

  One of the positives from the 2020 social distancing mandates was the development of new technology for making connections. Video conferencing tools made it possible to commune with far flung loved ones. And in the case of Sanford and Lotta Dann (known to many as Mrs. D), Zoom made it possible to “meet in […]

Mrs d in New z

Dogs & Addiction Recovery – Sobriety’s Best Friend?

In the early days of my recovery journey, staying sober was my primary focus and it kept me busy. I had no time for a dog. In order to beat the cravings, I had to fill my time with all sorts of activities. There were meetings and talking with others in recovery to help me […]

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Mummies’ Night Out – Booze Soaked World

  I went out with a bunch of girlfriends last night. A big group of us mummies hitting the town for dinner and a comedy show. Pretty unusual for me to be out and about in town – let alone on a Wednesday night! – but yes it definitely happened.   Walking through town I […]

New Zealand