PinnedMember-onlyHow to Take Power Away from Emotionally Abusive PeopleOnly recommended for the hopelessly stubborn — Feeling trapped in a cycle of psychological and emotional abuse can be one of the worst experiences imaginable. The resulting fear, anger, shame, isolation and resentment can drain away every ounce of happiness, confidence, emotional stability and presence of mind. Each cell phone alert can transform into a trigger for…Mydailytip3 min readMydailytip3 min read
Mar 14Member-onlyAm I an alcoholic?Four words that carry the weight of the world — Have you ever asked yourself? Many have, and then immediately blocked out the question. It drips with shame and stigma. It’s steeped in fear and self-doubt. Sometimes, just sometimes, it even signals the beginning of the end of decades of denial. For many, the word alcoholic signifies an intolerable caricature…Addiction5 min readAddiction5 min read
Mar 12Member-onlyThe Gift of DesperationSometimes we need to fall down to stand up — Desperation is the lonely place we all go when we feel abandoned by happiness and hope. It is a state where misery hangs in the air so thick and heavy that you can’t see anything else. …Mental Health7 min readMental Health7 min read
Aug 11, 2021Member-onlyHow to Deaden the Sting of Emotional AbuseFor all those who “take it personally” — When an abusive tyrant singles you out, it’s easy to feel like you have a target on your back. It’s actually hard not to take it personally when the pattern of insults feels like a premeditated character assassination. You might ask yourself: What did I do to deserve this treatment…Mental Health4 min readMental Health4 min read
Published in Mental Health and Addictions Community·Aug 7, 2021Member-onlyMaybe I Should Have Picked UpA story about the harsh realities of recovery — You could see it in her face. Her eyebrows pinched downward and her eyes narrowed as she targeted Sam with a tractor beam of disdain. We all knew she was pissed, but none of us knew what was coming next. “You think this is a joke?! You’d better listen up,”…Addiction12 min readAddiction12 min read
Published in Ascent Publication·Aug 5, 2021Member-onlyHow to Be Heard in a World That Doesn’t Want to ListenAn authentic approach to overcoming social isolation — The world is very loud today. Everyone seems to have a microphone, but few have an audience. There’s so much noise and so many claims on individual attention that it can seem nearly impossible to get others to listen. When they do pay attention, are they really listening? Or are…Connection8 min readConnection8 min read
Published in Invisible Illness·Aug 3, 2021Member-onlyAddiction Isn’t a Bad Choice, It’s a SolutionOur oversimplified narrative completely misses the real problem — Addiction is a scary, debilitating thing. Its all-consuming vice grip can hollow out even the most resilient of loved ones, leaving them no more than a shell of their prior selves. It consistently defies logic, stubbornly resists unwelcomed help and will stop at nothing to prolong its existence. Close personal…Addiction8 min readAddiction8 min read
Published in Mental Health and Addictions Community·Jul 31, 2021Member-onlyWhy Recovery Is “An Inside Job”And how to do “the work” — Have you ever been “sick and tired of being sick and tired?” I know I was. The world of recovery is full of catch phrases — some of which can feel superficial, empty or cliché. Maybe you’ve heard recovery described as “an inside job” before. …Addiction6 min readAddiction6 min read
Published in Mental Health and Addictions Community·Jul 24, 2021Member-onlyWhen the Bars Absorbed the Sidewalks and Spilled into the StreetsRecovery challenges in NYC during a pandemic — If you live in New York City, you know that space is a precious commodity. Unless you knock down a building, every square foot of Manhattan real estate is spoken for. Some hypothesize that this is why NYC is so lively. The limited space forces the intermingling of those who…Addiction10 min readAddiction10 min read
Jul 18, 2021Member-onlyThe Great BrainwashingDon’t let yourself be fooled — our world isn’t supposed to make sense — Friends, gather round. I have a story to tell. It’s a story of false expectations, magical assumptions and a crippling reliance on the way things “should” be. It all started long ago in a land not far away — back in a time when we were little. The great brainwashing…Storytelling9 min readStorytelling9 min read
