Do This 1 Thing to Stay Off Opioids Forever

Do This 1 Thing to Stay Off Opioids Forever

Using willpower to change a behavior means working hard to achieve something; Merriam Webster defines will power as “energetic determination.” If I need willpower to accomplish something, then I am attempting a task that I feel some level of conflict about doing. Like...
Alcohol Use Disorder: Easy to Meet Criteria

Alcohol Use Disorder: Easy to Meet Criteria

A lot of patients I see don’t really know they may meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. I can tell you that it’s not that hard to qualify, and more and more people are entering the ranks. From 2001 to 2012, the prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) increased...
Get Clean or Screw It?

Get Clean or Screw It?

Sometimes it is hard to think beyond the next two months or so. It is very easy to say “f**k it, I may not even be here in two months if the coronavirus gets a hold of me…” And for many, there is a sense of the relief from responsibility that comes with being...
The Connection Between Mental and Physical Pain

The Connection Between Mental and Physical Pain

My trauma occurred in February of 2011. As I stood in front of the podium and spoke at a state summit in Michigan, I recounted my trauma — my past — in front of a room filled with strangers. I shared my vulnerable story and my transition from victim to thriving...
Reframing Thoughts During Coronavirus

Reframing Thoughts During Coronavirus

On a recent (pre-COVID 19) retreat I attended, we focused on reframing thoughts, feelings, and past experiences and turning negatives into positives. I have found myself using some of these reframing skills during our current coronavirus pandemic experience. I am in...