The Challenges and Blessings of Being a Sober Mother

As a new mother who is in recovery from alcoholism, I have gained an enormous amount of first-hand experience into the unique challenges that motherhood brings for those either trying to get sober or intending to sustain their recovery.

As a new mother who is in recovery from alcoholism, I have gained an enormous amount of first-hand experience into the unique challenges that motherhood brings for those either trying to get sober or intending to sustain their recovery.

Dealing with an Addicted Teen During the Holidays

"We convince ourselves that things are happening the way we want them to be happening. It’s the equivalent of closing our eyes and hoping that the problem will disappear on its own."

"We convince ourselves that things are happening the way we want them to be happening. It’s the equivalent of closing our eyes and hoping that the problem will disappear on its own."

Smoking and Supportive Texts

Smokers intent on quitting responded well to supportive text messages.

Smokers intent on quitting responded well to supportive text messages.

Amy Winehouse---What We Need to Know Know Know

Because addictions are dangerous and dehumanizing, our unexamined assumptions about them can make them more so.

Because addictions are dangerous and dehumanizing, our unexamined assumptions about them can make them more so.

How the Disease Theory of Alcoholism Killed Mary Pendery, and Harm Reduction Could Have Saved Her

Mary Pendery, whose article in Science showed that controlled-drinking subjects in an alcoholism study suffered many relapses, was killed by an alcoholic she felt was safely remitted due to his abstinence therapy at the same facility where the CD treatment took place. Her tragic mistake -- which caused her and this alcoholic their lives -- offers a beacon for the future.

Mary Pendery, whose article in Science showed that controlled-drinking subjects in an alcoholism study suffered many relapses, was killed by an alcoholic she felt was safely remitted due to his abstinence therapy at the same facility where the CD treatment took place. Her tragic mistake -- which caused her and this alcoholic their lives -- offers a beacon for the future.

Rethinking Recovery

If weight isn't the sole arbiter of the seriousness of an eating disorder, then it can't also be the benchmark of recovery. Weight restoration (if necessary) and normalization of eating habits are just the first step in eating disorder recovery. Only with nutritional rehabilitation can you begin to address other psychological issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma.

If weight isn't the sole arbiter of the seriousness of an eating disorder, then it can't also be the benchmark of recovery. Weight restoration (if necessary) and normalization of eating habits are just the first step in eating disorder recovery. Only with nutritional rehabilitation can you begin to address other psychological issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Calling bull%&@$ on addiction treatment bullies

In addiction treatment, like in the treatment of all other chronic conditions (like diabetes, hypertension, cancer) there are a whole bunch of options. So why do addiction treatment bullies think have a monopoly on "recovery" and what should we really be striving for?

In addiction treatment, like in the treatment of all other chronic conditions (like diabetes, hypertension, cancer) there are a whole bunch of options. So why do addiction treatment bullies think have a monopoly on "recovery" and what should we really be striving for?

People, places, and things - How important are drug-related triggers for relapse?

The power of a little taste of drug as a way to re-activate addictive behavior makes sense but the fact that drug-related triggers may be even more powerful is at least a little surprising...

The power of a little taste of drug as a way to re-activate addictive behavior makes sense but the fact that drug-related triggers may be even more powerful is at least a little surprising...

Hope for Teens with Anorexia

Most eating disorders treatments are not evidence-based. Finally, there's one for teenage anorexia that is.

Most eating disorders treatments are not evidence-based. Finally, there's one for teenage anorexia that is.

Great Mistakes - The Big Six Red Flags (Part 1)

Errors in judgment can reach critical mass, when you are infatuated and choose to ignore misgivings.

Errors in judgment can reach critical mass, when you are infatuated and choose to ignore misgivings.

Relapse

I will never do this again. I can't believe I've done this to myself again. Not true. Relapse is more the rule than the exception. Planning on it, accepting it, moving on, are key elements to a successful strategy for change.

I will never do this again. I can't believe I've done this to myself again. Not true. Relapse is more the rule than the exception. Planning on it, accepting it, moving on, are key elements to a successful strategy for change.

Is There a Middle Way in 12-Step Programs? (Part I)

For all the neuroscience advances that Dr. Johnson touts, no one has handed addicts a pretty pink pill.  Dopamine and serotonin be damned!  I still get depressed on aximum-plus doses of sertraline and bupropion.

For all the neuroscience advances that Dr. Johnson touts, no one has handed addicts a pretty pink pill.  Dopamine and serotonin be damned!  I still get depressed on aximum-plus doses of sertraline and bupropion.

How it doesn't work: The dogma of the 12 steps

Imagine a doctor blaming a patient for an ineffective treatment? You may have just imagined the world of the hardcore 12-steppers. If we're going to make people better, it's time to take the dogma out of treatment.

Imagine a doctor blaming a patient for an ineffective treatment? You may have just imagined the world of the hardcore 12-steppers. If we're going to make people better, it's time to take the dogma out of treatment.

A Reader's Strategies for Coping with Adult ADHD and Procrastination

I received a letter from a Don't Delay reader today. With his consent, I'm sharing this letter here on the blog, as it's an insightful, well-written, first-hand account of coming to grips with adult ADHD and procrastination. We can all learn something from reading this.

I received a letter from a Don't Delay reader today. With his consent, I'm sharing this letter here on the blog, as it's an insightful, well-written, first-hand account of coming to grips with adult ADHD and procrastination. We can all learn something from reading this.

How Trying Versus Doing Limits Potential

One of my teachers, Grandmaster Lee, is often heard saying, "There is no "try" - only do!" While at first blush this may appear to be one of many almost stereotypical aphorisms of a wizened old Taoist priest, it is, in fact, a rather complex social commentary on how not to build negativity into our lives and, simultaneously, maximize our potential for success.  In his typically oblique Chinese fashion, he means it just that way.

One of my teachers, Grandmaster Lee, is often heard saying, "There is no "try" - only do!" While at first blush this may appear to be one of many almost stereotypical aphorisms of a wizened old Taoist priest, it is, in fact, a rather complex social commentary on how not to build negativity into our lives and, simultaneously, maximize our potential for success.  In his typically oblique Chinese fashion, he means it just that way.

The Triggering Effect

Once the roller coaster car gets to a certain spot in the track, a threshold is met, there is no turning back, and it starts the downward loop - a relapse.   

Once the roller coaster car gets to a certain spot in the track, a threshold is met, there is no turning back, and it starts the downward loop - a relapse.   

No News: Antidepressants Work

Do antidepressants work? They do. New evidence comes from a study of children and adolescents, patients in age groups where the efficacy of antidepressants has been hard to demonstrate. It’s just the sort of research that critics of drug trials ought to find convincing.

Do antidepressants work? They do. New evidence comes from a study of children and adolescents, patients in age groups where the efficacy of antidepressants has been hard to demonstrate. It’s just the sort of research that critics of drug trials ought to find convincing.