Self Care for Fast Times

Self Care for Fast Times

Oh my. The holidays. The responsibilities. The drama. The pressure. It can make a sane person crazy and a sober person relapse. There are so many things out there on social media about self-care, but as a Family Practice Nurse Practitioner with an additional specialty...
Holiday Survival Guide: Staying Sober Over The Holidays

Holiday Survival Guide: Staying Sober Over The Holidays

There is so much support out there for people committed to their sobriety, especially during the holidays. The added stressors of gifts, events, parties, and relatives can intensify urges and vaporize a resolve in the afternoon that was solid in the morning. Many...
The Power of Gratitude

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is not just for Thanksgiving anymore. Gratitude practiced every day of the year—or most days anyway—is a way to conquer life’s challenges, including depression and recovery. There are endless ways in which we can do this, so stay tuned for...
Memes as a Recovery Tool

Memes as a Recovery Tool

There is absolutely nothing funny about addiction. Alcohol and opioid use disorders are causing deaths at unprecedented rates, destroying families, and costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars per year. The beginning stages of recovery are rough, really rough:...
My Patient’s Most Shameful Secret

My Patient’s Most Shameful Secret

One of the most troubling aspects of my job as a medical addiction professional reared its head last week as I entered the exam room for a follow-up visit with Gordon.* Gordon has had a very successful career in banking. He is the 64-year old divorced father of three...