Suffering. We all experience it as a fact of human existence. But what happens to us when we begin to define ourselves by our suffering? Some say that suffering is a choice. For those who actually suffer from mental health challenges, it does not appear to be or feel like any sort of choice. It […]
Power can be understood as having two aspects: power-over and power-with. Power-over others arises from and unequal capacity for effective action and access to resources. This could involve individuals or groups holding the means and influence to control the actions of others. Of interest in this discussion is power that comes from within a person […]
“Egwene clung to Rand’s arm for two more bridges. He regretted it when she finally let go with a murmured apology and a forced laugh, and not just because it had felt good having her hold onto him that way. It was easier to be brave, he discovered, when someone needed your protection.“ ~ from […]
I believe that addicts who hit bottom and reach out for help have one thing in common: the way they are living runs against their most cherished values. Choices and actions run in opposite directions to what matters most to them. How often do we hear in recovery the story of how an addict has […]
Everyone needs something to lean on sometimes. As a recovering addict, I definitely need some sort of power greater than myself to stay sober and to quell the self-destructive rebellion in my mind. Fortunately, that power doesn’t need to be outside myself. The nature of pure awareness Thoughts, ego, personality–and desires and cravings–are all aspects […]
Two words loaded with religious undertones (and overtones!) are magic and miracle. My goal in writing this piece is to demystify the two terms and ground them in the secular context of addiction and mental health. Sounds weird, eh? Well, I have some help from a book I read a little while back, and I’d […]
I was in a recovery workshop group yesterday, and the facilitator was asking participants for their understandings of the word ‘hope’. I struggled with that one. I have a difficult relationship with the word. I’m not even sure what it means. It’s probably one of those words that people toss around assuming it means the […]
In my story, it’s nearly impossible to untangle the interdependent relationship between mental health, addiction, and spirituality. I began using alcohol (and other substances) to open my mind, and I eventually became hopelessly dependent on surges of dopamine to feel any possibility of having purpose in life. I lived the parable of ‘Man takes drink; […]
Word of caution: This post contains discussion concerning the topic of suicide and may not be suitable for some readers. If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or has suicide-related concerns, please call (in Canada) 1-833-456-4566 toll free (In QC: 1-866-277-3553), 24/7 or visit talksuicide.ca. My first few years in recovery went as expected. I […]
The Peace of Wild Things 
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