Would you be surprised to hear that porn sites get more monthly visits than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined? The first time I heard that, I sure was! The sheer volume of pornography use doesn't merely reflect use by adults. With the prevalence of smart phones and the accessibility to...
I think back fondly to one of my favorite twelve-step meetings when I was in early recovery. The meeting focused on meditation. After introductions, group members turned off the room lights, closed the doors, and drew the curtains shut, creating an atmosphere of complete darkness. A...
Addiction can manifest itself in individuals through both behaviors and substance/alcohol use. Some of these behaviors are well accepted in society and can be considered healthy behaviors, such as drinking a glass of wine with dinner for heart health or taking medication prescribed by your...
"If I told somebody I was a recovering alcoholic, people would applaud and celebrate," complains my client. "But I’d get stares and judgment if they knew I am a recovering sex addict!" Many individual and group clients have either verbally or silently grumbled something to that effect...
Less than one percent of the population has run a full 26.2-mile marathon. I used to think that those who do so were crazy. Recently, I signed up to run a half-marathon. I guess that makes me half crazy. :)Curiously, though, I had a blast running 13.1 miles! As I was rounding the bend on...
Whaaaaat!? Jennifer Lawrence. Pole dancing. While drunk. I recently read an article about a video that has gone viral depicting actress Jennifer Lawrence pole dancing at a club. She appears intoxicated while celebrating a friend’s birthday. It is a brilliant public relations move on...
A few years ago, my grandfather suffered a massive heart attack that would eventually take his life. Standing by his hospital bed, my family and I felt powerless and fearful. When the heart rate monitor finally registered a flat line, a pang of sadness devastated us. Through the...
I appreciate the practicality of the tools used by 12 step-groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Sex Addicts Anonymous. The tools help in establishing consistent sobriety, which is the basic foundation upon which all subsequent growth depends. How important are these simple tools...
I remember the day that my mother-in-law instructed me how to best connect to my sister-in-laws, who are substantially younger than me. My mother-in-law stated that it is best to meet them on their own turf, reaching out to them via text, rather than any other archaic way such as having a...
So, I like to look at how addiction can manifest in our lives, kind of like a pet, a cuddly, furry, loving, adoring little pet. A pet that likes to snuggle your neck, comfort you and keep you company. This pet of ours, our addictive traits, comes into our lives as soothing...
