Recent Posts
Steps for Combating Acute Sexual Temptations
When I was invited to write an article addressing strategies to combat acute temptation in times of significant stressors, I couldn't think of a more important topic. Since the onset of the pandemic, many of us have had more downtime—and more opportunities for our...
Why Community is Critical for Recovery—and Life
Though it feels longer ago than it was, I had the great pleasure of being able to go home for Christmas. While my overall social life was limited, it still turned out to be a very good thing. I was a bit nervous about spending an additional amount of time with my...
A Nun with a History of Sexual Abuse and Overeating Encounters Grace and Healing
Like many who struggle with eating disorders of some kind, Sister Margaret can trace the start of her unhealthy relationship with food to being sexually abused at the age of three. “In OA (Overeaters Anonymous) meetings, I hear the same story about sexual abuse. A...
What Makes a Good Accountability Partner for Sexual Addictions?
As the new year continues many addicts are searching for an accountability partner. This is necessary for those new to recovery as they take responsibility for their lives and begin (or continue) on the path of recovery. One of my mentors, Les Brown, would say,...
Looking to the Holy Family to Better Love Our Own Family
The disease of alcoholism and addiction is often referred to as the family disease. This is because if someone who suffers from addiction looks hard enough they can often find others in their own family who suffer. For us in recovery, when we take a moment to look...
Julie Learns to Accept Her Son’s Drug Addiction through Al-Anon and Catholic in Recovery
Eight years ago, Julie discovered her son was using drugs. This discovery spurred tremendous grief and suffering, leaving her and her husband feeling helpless and unable to help him recover and find healing. “I literally had no plan of action for helping him, or me,...
Developing a “Holiday Battle Plan” to Maintain Our Recovery
With proper preparation, winter is a time to get cozy and a time to indulge in all sorts of things: comfort food, delicious treats, and open fires. Winter can also offer us more time. We can develop new skills, sharpen old ones, and prepare for the following year. But...
How a Mental Health Disorder Can Greatly Affect Our Recovery
In some of my previous articles, I may have mentioned my diagnosis with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but I haven’t really written about it at great length. Nor have I articulated it in reference to my recovery journey. I’m convinced both in my experience of...
Reflecting on the Step Nine Promises
We learn to live sober through the Twelve Steps. In doing so we find God. And in finding God we find ourselves. Miracles occur when we finally surrender everything to God and take action. One of the biggest miracles is realizing we can actually live without drugs and...
Ways to Avoid Playing the Victim and Blaming Others
We all do it. The blame game. We tend to blame others for our faults. We start when we are quite young, blaming a sibling or even the dog for the broken lamp. This is so common that almost everyone can recall either blaming someone else or being the one getting blamed...
Steps for Combating Acute Sexual Temptations
When I was invited to write an article addressing strategies to combat acute temptation in times of significant stressors, I couldn't think of a more important topic. Since the onset of the pandemic, many of us have had more downtime—and more opportunities for our...
Why Community is Critical for Recovery—and Life
Though it feels longer ago than it was, I had the great pleasure of being able to go home for Christmas. While my overall social life was limited, it still turned out to be a very good thing. I was a bit nervous about spending an additional amount of time with my...
A Nun with a History of Sexual Abuse and Overeating Encounters Grace and Healing
Like many who struggle with eating disorders of some kind, Sister Margaret can trace the start of her unhealthy relationship with food to being sexually abused at the age of three. “In OA (Overeaters Anonymous) meetings, I hear the same story about sexual abuse. A...
What Makes a Good Accountability Partner for Sexual Addictions?
As the new year continues many addicts are searching for an accountability partner. This is necessary for those new to recovery as they take responsibility for their lives and begin (or continue) on the path of recovery. One of my mentors, Les Brown, would say,...
Looking to the Holy Family to Better Love Our Own Family
The disease of alcoholism and addiction is often referred to as the family disease. This is because if someone who suffers from addiction looks hard enough they can often find others in their own family who suffer. For us in recovery, when we take a moment to look...
Julie Learns to Accept Her Son’s Drug Addiction through Al-Anon and Catholic in Recovery
Eight years ago, Julie discovered her son was using drugs. This discovery spurred tremendous grief and suffering, leaving her and her husband feeling helpless and unable to help him recover and find healing. “I literally had no plan of action for helping him, or me,...
Developing a “Holiday Battle Plan” to Maintain Our Recovery
With proper preparation, winter is a time to get cozy and a time to indulge in all sorts of things: comfort food, delicious treats, and open fires. Winter can also offer us more time. We can develop new skills, sharpen old ones, and prepare for the following year. But...
How a Mental Health Disorder Can Greatly Affect Our Recovery
In some of my previous articles, I may have mentioned my diagnosis with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but I haven’t really written about it at great length. Nor have I articulated it in reference to my recovery journey. I’m convinced both in my experience of...
Reflecting on the Step Nine Promises
We learn to live sober through the Twelve Steps. In doing so we find God. And in finding God we find ourselves. Miracles occur when we finally surrender everything to God and take action. One of the biggest miracles is realizing we can actually live without drugs and...
Ways to Avoid Playing the Victim and Blaming Others
We all do it. The blame game. We tend to blame others for our faults. We start when we are quite young, blaming a sibling or even the dog for the broken lamp. This is so common that almost everyone can recall either blaming someone else or being the one getting blamed...