The Coleman Institute Blog
26
May 20
Alcohol Habit vs Addiction – How It Forms
Although author James Clear makes it, well, clear—that addiction is not just someone’s “bad habit”, I think it totally makes sense for people in recovery to utilize some of the concepts he captures in his best selling book, Atomic Habits.
Clear has taken the topic of habit creation, broken it down to bite-sized pieces, and gives discrete suggestions for any of us attempting to create a good habit or eliminate a bad one. (more…)
25
May 20
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 a part of you knows that you need or should do something, but another part of you feels resistance to doing it.
This holds true for someone who also has decided to stop using drugs, yet when the choice to use is no longer an option, resistance drops. However, perhaps the most important part of getting to this place of diminished resistance is creating an environment conducive to succeeding.
(more…)
21
May 20
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. (more…)
15
May 20
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 confronted by our complete vulnerability and lack of control. A well-patterned groove that finds comfort in chaos. Oh, the pleasure of slipping into the oblivion that alcohol or other drugs provide. (more…)
14
May 20
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 survivor. As I spoke, my legs shook uncontrollably, my palms were sweaty, and my heart raced.
(more…)
