B.R. asks: What are some signs that my loved one may be relapsing? Hi B.R., There's an acronym for the other word for relapse, which is a slip, S-L-I-P. It stands for Sobriety Loses Its Priority. You've got an addict who's been clean for a while, or an alcoholic, or gambler, etc. who's been clean for a while, who hasn't been using their addictive behaviour. Things are going pretty well and then... sobriety loses its priority. I've known people who have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and … [Read more...] about What are some signs that my loved one may be relapsing?
staying clean and sober takes work
New Year’s Resolutions? Try Intentions Instead!
Originally posted in December 2010In the immortal words of John Lennon, another year is over and a new one’s just begun.Isn’t it interesting how we, as a society, agree that this is the time to give ourselves and our lives a complete and total new makeover? We have decided that at this time of the year we will revisit the year we’re leaving behind, dissecting it to see what worked for us and what didn’t. And on top of that, we need to make sure that we meet all of our “resolutions” quickly and … [Read more...] about New Year’s Resolutions? Try Intentions Instead!
Addiction and Relapse: A “Normal, Expected” Part of Recovery?
Have you ever noticed that the same issue sometimes bombards us from all angles for a while? It’s funny how life seems to come in themes. Lately I’ve been receiving a number of articles into my inbox, talking about addicts who relapse after they come out of treatment—or even after many years of sobriety. Most of these writers are telling me that relapse is a ‘normal part of recovery’ from addiction. Some are even trying to differentiate between a lapse and a relapse, as if that jargon matters … [Read more...] about Addiction and Relapse: A “Normal, Expected” Part of Recovery?
Robin Williams, Dead at 63: Words No One Ever Wanted to Hear
“Robin Williams: Dead, Apparent Suicide” How could this happen? We are asking ourselves this question today as we shake our heads in disbelief. Robin Williams, the uproariously funny comedian, dead? Apparent suicide?How can this be??Yes, we all knew he had problems with addiction—he’d bravely allowed that to be common knowledge, probably in the hope that his struggle could also help others. He carried the message in the true spirit of one who was walking the walk of addiction recovery, and I … [Read more...] about Robin Williams, Dead at 63: Words No One Ever Wanted to Hear
Philip Seymour Hoffman: How Many More Do We Have to Lose?
Seriously, I don’t know how many more articles like this I can write about celebrities dying of addiction.Along with everyone else who knew Philip Seymour Hoffman’s work, I mourn the loss of a gigantic talent. He was one of my favorite actors and I’ve seen most of his films. Of all the celebrity tributes I’ve heard about him in the past couple of days, the one that stands out for me is Rob Lowe’s—Lowe, a recovering addict/alcoholic himself, spoke of feeling angry about a number of things, not … [Read more...] about Philip Seymour Hoffman: How Many More Do We Have to Lose?
