What Does it Mean to Fail? Open Up to Imperfection!
Confronting the “F” word in early recovery… In addition to my clinical work, I also do freelance gigs in the community. Over the weekend, I had one such engagement. For whatever reason, I wasn’t quite myself that night. Walking into the workshop, I felt uneasy – dread creeping in. You see, I have a […]
The Power of Words in Recovery – The Best of Excursions Magazine
We are all seeking pleasure in our lives. Especially those new to recovery. After a long stretch of misery cloaked in the “reward” of an addictive substance, folks who have quit their drug of choice are looking for the real deal. Listening to Our Readers… Many of our Excursions articles stand the test […]
Michigan Recovery – Hiking Your Way to Sober Success!
I was at a presentation last month. An august fellow in a well-cut suit was so excited about his topic (convincing us that voting to legalize recreational marijuana was a bad idea), he actually jumped up and down at the podium. DO (jump)! NOT (jump)! ALLOW (jump)! THIS TO HAPPEN IN MICHIGAN (jump, jump)! Sometimes I […]
Toxic Masculinity – The Hidden Trauma in Men’s Lives
Updated 4/29/2024 Human suffering is all around us. We learn of untold, hidden trauma—sexual abuse, bullying, domestic violence, early and sudden deaths of loved ones, exposure to combat, life-altering injuries, etc. It makes us wonder how men and women survive and move on to live life after traumatic experiences. Heroic stories of survival and […]
Anthony Bourdain: Shining a Light on Suicide, Addiction and Depression
The deaths by suicide of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade last week, brought mental health and suicide to the forefront. Perhaps that is the only positive that can be gleaned from the tragic and avoidable loss of such robust, talented people. When Celebrity Shines a Light… In the celebrity magazine Us Weekly, there […]
Enabling VS Empathy – It’s a Fine Line – Interacting With Addiction
Even if you aren’t familiar with addiction treatment, you’ve probably heard the term “enabler”. Enabling describes how loved ones interact with a person with a substance use disorder (SUD). And although many of us have heard the word, few of us know what it actually means. Enabling behavior is anything that supports an addict’s […]
Early Recovery – Strategies to Push Fast Forward
Early recovery … … is hard as hell. Anyone who says otherwise is lying. It takes guts, commitment, and bravery to remove alcohol from your life and relearn how to live as a sober person. It does get much easier the more time that goes on not drinking… But there’s no getting away […]
A Firsthand View – Art Therapy and the Treatment of Anxiety
In group therapy, I ask members to “keep within their own experience.” No advice giving. No telling others how to feel. This helps create safety within the session. A college mentor of mine once said, “Never assume to understand the experience of someone else. Even if it’s one you’re familiar with, like sadness or […]
Dysfunctional Drinking – Am I Being the Fun Police?
I was scrolling through Instagram a couple of days ago when I saw a photo that a local celebrity had posted. It was of a takeaway cup filled with wine and the caption read: “Sneaking a light beverage into the school prize giving tonight.” The photo was liked by over 2,000 people […]
Boredom and Isolation in Recovery…
Yesterday afternoon at about 4pm I sat at the kitchen bench and stared off into space. I felt bored and restless. I would have rather been somewhere else. Working at an office in town maybe. Or out doing something – anything – stimulating and interesting. But because I’m a stay-at-home mum who works part-time […]
