Spend the Holidays in Rehab? I’ll Think About That Tomorrow
When Scarlett O’Hara said I’ll think about that tomorrow, she was putting aside a difficult decision for a more convenient time. That’s the problem with procrastinating about something painful, like addressing a substance use disorder (SUD). There is never a good time, but there’s always a good excuse. No excuses to put off […]
Dear Rae: Is My 15-Year Old Using Alcohol & Drugs?
Dear Rae: My teenage son has begun to worry my husband and me. He is sullen and non-communicative – which is very new behavior in our house. We are a close family and he is our only child. In the past, John was open about school, friends and outside activities. But recently, he has been […]
Do You Really WANT to Change (and Be Sober)?
You have to want to change in order to change. I could type a million words about why I love being sober, but if you don’t want to stop drinking it will make no difference. The tools and techniques of change… I could talk until I run out of puff about all the […]
Sanford Founder Rae Green & WZZM13: Talking to Teens About Marihuana
Michigan is the 10th state to legalize recreational marihauna for adults over the age of 21. And yes, Michigan spells it “marihauna” – harkening back to the Marihauna Tax Act of 1937 for its chosen spelling. But an English lesson is not what our children need on the subject of marihauna, no matter […]
What is This Thing Called Addiction RECOVERY?
This is not a trick question. Nor does it have a “right” answer. However, there is a wise old saying by Yogi Berra that sums it up, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” And with addiction recovery, it is up to each one of us to define […]
Gratitude, Thankfulness and Recovery in the Real World…
I went away to a retreat last weekend. I was feeling a bit “rusty” in my recovery and decided I could use a tune-up. One of the things that hit me like a gong at a Buddhist temple while I was there, was the fact I had stopped doing a daily check on the […]
The Wood TV Interview – Sanford Outpatient Center
Thanks to Wood TV and Emily Linnert for this fabulous piece on Sanford Outpatient Center. Our newest facility is located in Suite #101 of the landmark, Grand Rapids Masonic Temple. Serving those with substance use disorders (SUDs) in another lovingly restored historic space. Wood TV Interview – Sanford Outpatient Center
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 […]
I’m an Expert on Cravings…
The wall of words… I feel like I’ve become a bit of an expert on cravings. It’s been hard not to, given I am an addict through-and-through and my brain likes to crave things… How the Brain Craves… After I quit booze I became very aware of how my brain craved. I spent many, […]
