Seen & Heard: Service Is Important in Recovery

I recently saw a tweet that said this: “I said I was good and didn’t need to go to a meeting. My sponsor said, ‘Really? What about everyone else?’” A big part of going to meetings is meant to help us maintain our own sobriety. But AA works because it is one alcoholic helping another. …

Avoidance in Addiction Recovery

I talked to my sponsor a few weeks ago about a character defect I’m working on. I have a problem with not keeping in touch with friends or family who aren’t nearby. I genuinely have the best intentions, but I just don’t do it very well. And the more time passes, the harder it is …

Seen & Heard: Trauma is the Real Gateway Drug

I recently posted the quote above on my Facebook page. I think the first place I read that was in a longer quote from Russell Brand. His quote says this: It’s so true, isn’t it? Addiction to drugs or alcohol is often a symptom of something much bigger. Something that nearly always has its roots …

My Addiction Recovery Story

I was asked to share my story at one of my recovery meetings a couple of months ago. It’s been a while since I stood up in front of a bunch of people and talked about my alcoholism and getting sober, so I was nervous. It was also the first time that my daughter was …

Why Do We Self-Sabotage in Recovery?

Being in recovery for the last ten years has taught me a lot about myself and other recovering addicts. While we’re all unique individuals with different, often dysfunctional, histories, we also have a lot in common. One of the most common similarities that I’ve seen time and time again is our ability to self-sabotage. Addiction …

Finding a New Recovery Community

When I got sober in 2012, I learned that my sobriety depends on the people with whom I surround myself. I need to interact with other people in recovery to help me stay sober and active in my recovery. Fortunately, my husband, Austin, is a recovering alcoholic, the same as me, and we’re able to …

When Relapse is Part of Addiction Recovery

I'm back! Back to writing and blogging for myself and not just for work. I wish that I could say that I'm back and I've stayed sober for the last couple of years, but that wouldn't be the truth. I had a relapse in September 2019. Fortunately, it was a one-time, one-day relapse, from which …

Gratitude – July 8

My post for yesterday is late, but not because I don't have a lot to be grateful for.  I had a good day at work and was able to get everything done that I needed to.  And again, I was able to do it in only 9 hours!  That's definitely one for the gratitude list. …

Normies…they don’t get it.

I've been  a part of the recovery community for over two years now (sober for eight months), and I have become so accustomed to interacting with others in the program that I often forget about the normies out there.  Most of the people who I have any kind of relationship with are people who are at least a …