HALT is a saying that asks you to take stock of how you’re feeling. It’s preparation before you engage in any stressful event. It touches on the dangerous feelings that can make us vulnerable to emotional distress or the temptation to… Read More »HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
The initial reaction when someone tells us to “take it one day at a time” It’s easy to think we should live 100% in the moment when we hear “take it one day at a time.” We learn that this… Read More »Does “one day at a time” mean we can’t plan for the future?
It is murky when someone says they’re “working the steps.” What does that mean? When do they ever finish the 12 steps? Or we might hear that we should finish the steps in a specific timeline or that our way… Read More »How Long Does It Take to Complete the 12 Steps?
If you’re in a 12 step group and single, you may see plenty of fish. And what’s not to like? You have the same goals: staying sober, learning to live responsibly, and living each day to the fullest. The similarities… Read More »Dating in Twelve-Step Programs: Pros and Cons
Many therapies, recovery centers, and programs believe that getting sober is the measuring stick for success. Once you get the patient sober, they consider it a great success. And it is a success. With insurance companies only paying for a… Read More »Is Sobriety Enough?
You may have heard the expression “White Knuckling.” But what does it mean? In most contexts, you’ve heard it said with a bad connotation, as though the white knuckler isn’t doing something right. We’ll look at what it means. Boiled… Read More »What is White-Knuckling Sobriety?
You might have heard it said in a meeting, “my disease is doing pushups in the parking lot.” The intent is that their alcoholism is getting stronger even while they’re sober. It’s scary to imagine some muscular version of your… Read More »Is Your Disease Really Doing Pushups in the Parking Lot?
There’s a common expression: “AA is for people who want it, not for people who need it.” That’s missing a vital ingredient: The people who take action get sober. It has been heartbreaking to see so many successful, wealthy, and… Read More »AA is for People who Do It, Not People who Need It
The “bottom” is a saying for when the consequences of drinking or using cause you to seek help. It is different for everyone in severity. The bottom could be a missed appointment for one person, while it could mean the… Read More »What is a “Bottom”: The Point When you Realize You Have a Problem
Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable. Without the first step, we have no reason to pursue recovery. We have to admit to ourselves that we have a problem. The foundation… Read More »What the first step means and how to apply it