The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast -Episode 108
I had the pleasure of joining Ashley Loeb Blassingame for an “Ask the Expert” episode on the Courage To Change Podcast to discuss all things interventions. Listen here, or wherever you get your...
View ArticleSummer and Safety
Summer is in full swing. Warm temperatures, picnics, barbeques, and 4th of July parades are all hallmarks of this time of year. It’s a great time to celebrate family, friends and freedom. Safety is a...
View ArticleRecovery, Routine, and Habit Stacking
At every age and every stage of life, a good routine is beneficial, if not outright necessary, to our overall health and happiness. By embracing a routine, we make the time we need to handle all the...
View ArticleAre You Feeling Anxious? Blame Your Brain
Over the last few weeks I, and the rest of the world, have encountered so many changes: masks are off, crowds are gathering, travel is up, violent crime is up, temperatures are rising, and the Olympics...
View ArticleThe Overdose Death Toll is Staggering
The Overdose Death Toll is Staggering. Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control released national data that confirms almost 30% increase in deaths by drug overdose. Tragically, over 93,000...
View ArticleIs Change Strange?
I have been thinking a lot about change lately, both personally and professionally. Recently we moved back to North San Diego country to a beautiful, serene area full of birds chirping, running...
View ArticleAthletes and Mental Health
We love and admire professional athletes for their talent, discipline, and amazing achievements. Even more admirable are those sports celebrities who are using their status to shine a light on...
View ArticleBlack Athletes Speak Out On Mental Wellness
With the news of Simone Biles pulling out of the Olympic finals and choosing her mental health first, we are seeing a movement among elite Black athletes who are taking a public stand to advocate for...
View ArticleMarijuana: Do You Think It Should Be Legal?
Early in July, US Senate Democrats introduced a draft bill that would legalize marijuana use for Americans, 21 and older. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill in December 2020. The...
View ArticleYo-Yo Effect: Will Substance Abuse Spike Again?
The other day I was picturing in my mind’s eye a little child playing with a yo-yo. I couldn’t help but think about the energy of a yo-yo in motion. In the hands of a skilled yo-yoer, we see a back...
View ArticleParty Without Regrets
Colleges all over the nation are getting ready for students to return to campus. The return of students to in-person classes and dorm living will usher in the return of parties. Often, alcohol is the...
View ArticleOut and About – Delightful Get Togethers
Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Families It’s been a long time since I have been out and about meeting with all of you in person and to speaking engagements (which I love to do.) The last big conference...
View ArticleBack to School During National Recovery Month
September is officially here, and with it comes the welcome return to school for many students. The pandemic drags on, but there is hope for a return to normalcy in the coming months ahead. Still,...
View ArticleSeptember Is National Suicide Prevention Month
Funny how we delegate days and months to certain causes. The truth is that every day should be a suicide prevention day. Sadly, death by suicide is among the leading causes of death overall in the...
View ArticleHow Families Cope After Suicide
When I was 7, my father died by suicide. To say I was traumatized to learn that he hung himself with a tie would be an understatement. My mother, also experiencing this trauma, had no place where she...
View ArticleWhat Is Dual Diagnosis and How Does It Impact Addiction Recovery?
What is dual diagnosis? Dual diagnosis is when someone has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, such as alcoholism or drug addiction. About 50% of people with a substance use...
View ArticleWise Potato Chips, Liquid Sunshine, a Wedding in the Forest and 75 Years
The sun gods were kind to my cousin Ryan and Martha, who planned their wedding in a forest. Traveling down dirt roads, we marveled at the countryside with little markers to save a tree or two to tell...
View ArticleIs Happiness the Best Feeling?
As I continue to contemplate aging and wrangle with acceptance, I often wonder which feeling is predominant. People often ask if happiness is the goal of life and I wonder what happiness truly means....
View ArticleIs Covid Causing an Increase in Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia?
Over the past few months, I have been getting more and more calls about young people who are increasing afraid to leave home and who are having panic attacks. The past year has been tough on all of us....
View ArticleDo You Have Disturbing Thoughts?
Have you ever been sitting, walking or doing something and then, all of a sudden, a strange, disturbing thought or image pops into your mind? It may be a recurring fear that you are not good enough,...
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