Just for Today – Step Away From the FEAR
FEAR. Gripping, crippling, crushing FEAR. “What if he doesn’t….” “What if she does….” “How can I….” “Maybe if I….” “I should have….” “I’ll never…” “If he doesn’t….” These are the phrases that come tumbling out when loved ones of people who struggle with the brain disease of alcoholism or drug addiction call me. I can…
Read MoreTwo Books to Help Explain Alcoholism to Children – Daddy’s Disease | Mommy’s Disease
Children are often hurt the most by a parent’s alcoholism because they do not have any basis for understanding what is happening. Psychotherapist and author, Carolyn Hannan, has written two books, Daddy’s Disease and Mommy’s Disease, to help caring adults and parents explain alcoholism to children. I was thrilled to learn of her work and her…
Read MoreBusiness Costs of Employee Off-Hours Drinking | Secondhand Drinking
Absenteeism, lost productivity, safety risks, health care costs, employee wellness – these are but a few of the business costs of employee off-hours drinking and secondhand drinking (SHD), that latter of which directly affects some 90 million Americans. And by “drinking,” I’m referring to the kind of drinking that results in drinking behaviors, such as…
Read MoreAlcohol, Brain Development & the College Campus | Military Sexual Assault Connection
Sexual assault on college campuses and in the military has been front and center, again, recently. In this post I share how incorporating 21st century brain development research, coupled with the implications of alcohol misuse ages 12-25, can enhance education and prevention efforts and reduce sexual assaults on college campuses and in the military. By…
Read MoreOur Shameful Treatment of the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
I was compelled to write about our shameful treatment of the incarcerated mentally ill after listening to KQED’s The California Report program, titled: “Lawmakers Push for More Mental Health Spending,” by April Dembosky. In her story, Ms. Dembosky reported Darrell Steinberg, California’s Senate president pro Tem and his allies “…want to spend $132 million on efforts…
Read MoreCo-occurring Disorders Require Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment
What happens when co-occurring disorders treatment doesn’t happen? Consider the following exchange I had with one of my clients, a 45-year old male who had been ticketed for a DUI. His wife was threatening legal separation. He was worried about losing his license, which would cost him his job. The DUI had prompted him to complete…
Read MoreDarlene Lancer on Obsession and Love Addictions
Darlene Lancer, author of Codependency for Dummies, shares her thoughts on obsession and love addictions in her following guest post… Just as an addict obsesses on his drug of choice, as codependents, we obsess on the addict. Obsessions, although painful, can keep us in denial of even more painful feelings and fears. Thus, it can…
Read MoreJoin the Addiction Recovery Movement
Change happens. Sometimes it’s rapid. Sometimes it’s so slow you wonder if it’s ever going to really change. One such “is it ever going to really change” movements is the Women’s Rights Movement. In my “before,” I studied the Women’s Rights Movement and wrote two biographies, one on Elizabeth Cady Stanton and one on Susan…
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