Blog Articles
Additional resources written by our PCS therapists.
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The Illusion
Series Three: Blog Ninety “Can’t get enough of what I really don’t want that almost works”-Anonymous This conundrum is a stumbling block for every addict. The devastating aftermath of an act out comes with a great price. Accumulation of exhaustion over time disrupts focus. Everyday stress that comes from work,… -
Can You Really Love Me If You Betrayed Me?
Series Three: Blog Eighty-Eight “Holding you is difficult today— “You feel sharp and jagged— All shoulder blades and elbows. How I would love to round your edges— To make you smooth in my rock tumbler heart.” —Anonymous It doesn’t matter what the relational experience is, betrayal sabotages everyone involved. The… -
The Young Adult Orphan Club
The hope is that we, as children, outlive our parents. That our parents live a long and rewarding life before they die. But what happens when this isn’t the case? What happens when our parents die young? What happens when we lose both of our parents and we aren’t quite… -
Starting Anew
I have worked at a children’s hospital in their inpatient psychiatric unit for over four years now. To this day, one of the most visceral images I have from my time there is of spaghetti with spoons. I mean it makes no sense. You give a kid that has a… -
Almost Persuaded – Everyday Struggles in the Life of a Sex Addict
Series Three: Blog Eighty-Seven It’s the Christmas season. So much going on. There’s a feeling of excitement stirring in the air. Kids are getting out of school for the holiday break. You remember what it was like for you when you were a kid. Some things were exciting and some… -
A Worn Road Less Traveled
Series Three: Blog Eighty-Six “Two Roads diverged in a wood And I took the one less traveled, And that has made all the difference” -Robert Frost An addict contemplating recovery sees only two options. It is either use or die with craving. Addicts don’t usually die with craving but they… -
The Courage to be Strong
Series Three: Blog Eighty-Five Brittany Griner is a celebrated female athlete who has played basketball for the Phoenix Mercury for the past 9 years. She has won almost every award imaginable in her sport. She was freed from a Russian prison yesterday. She had been sentenced to 9 years in… -
The Enmeshment Dilemma: Where I Stop and You Begin
Series Three: Blog Eighty-Four Addicts in recovery get better . . . they aren’t cured. There is a spectrum of what constitutes better. Many addicts in recovery stop acting out with their drug of choice as a result of working a diligent program that involves peer support, therapy and family… -
“I Want What I Want & I Want It Now”
How Instant Gratification Influences the Brain & Deteriorates Recovery The saying, “good things come to those who wait” has become harder to employ. Patience was long considered a virtue, but it seems more like an anachronism today. In today’s world we have access to fast everything—information, food, technology, entertainment, comfort,… -
How COVID-19 Continues to Impact Our Children
Over the past few years COVID-19 has had global impact. While many aspects of daily living have returned to their “new normal”, COVID continues to leave plenty of challenges outside of the actual virus. Working with children, adolescents and young adults has given me unique insight into the ongoing struggles… -
Who’s in the Driver Seat
Series Three: Blog Eighty-Three Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Holidays trigger many things. For many, it’s a time to connect with family and friends. It’s a time to engage traditions. For others, it’s a time to reflect and contemplate where you have been and where you are headed. Holidays always involve stress… -
Deep Listening
Series Three: Blog Eighty-Two When Someone Deeply Listens to You by John Fox When someone deeply listens to youit is like holding out a dented cupyou’ve had since childhoodand watching it fill up withcold, fresh water.When it balances on top of the brim,you are understood.When it overflows and touches your… -
Depression and Addiction
Series Three: Blog Eighty-One “When you’re lost in the woods, it sometimes takes you awhile to realize that you are lost. For the longest time, you can convince yourself that you’ve just wandered off the path, that you’ll find your way back to the trailhead any moment now. Then night… -
Peace in the Presence of Turmoil
Series Three: Blog Eighty “Peace Is an inner awakening, And this inner awakening We must share With the rest of the world.” ― Sri Chinmoy Finding the way of peace is a journey addicts in recovery long for. Turmoil and chaos is created by the junkie worm every day an… -
POLARIZATION
Series Two; Blog Seventy-Nine Polarization is a problem in the world. Us versus them is a mentality that has always existed. The criteria for who is in and who is out are determined by those who have the power. Historically, the criteria for acceptance has been tragic. Jewish people were… -
What Can Be Learned From Those Who Do Not Make It
Series Three: Blog Seventy-Eight Every blog post I have ever written addresses tools to help addicts avoid relapse, rebuild their lives and deepen intimacy with themselves and others. I have worked in the field of addiction recovery going on 28 years. There have been many inspirational success stories. There were… -
The Sweet Spot of Centered Living
Series Three: Blog Seventy-Seven Every day presents a new set of circumstances and issues in addict recovery. Some days go smooth without major conflict while other days are challenged with triggers, cravings and stress that create feelings of insecurity, impatience and overall struggle. There is no necessary rhyme or reason…. -
Daily Adjustment Strategies (D.A.S.)
Series Three: Blog Seventy-Six Recovery is never a static proposition. Once you decide that you have had enough chaos, heartache and hangover, it doesn’t all go away by attending a 12-step meeting. Rather than being “born again” once and for all, there is need for rebirth each and every day…. -
Facing Abandonment
Series Three: Blog Seventy-Five Addicts have many anxieties and fears. They grew up with holes in their souls with unmet childhood developmental needs from parents who failed to provide the fundamental emotional needs necessary. Some addicts suffered woeful negligence from physical, emotional and sexual abuse. For many their parents failed… -
Physically Together and Emotionally Apart
Series Three: Blog Seventy-Four Clients who are addicts in recovery and in a relationship often tell me that it is very difficult to physically be at home and emotionally connected with their partner. Like Carole King wrote in the song “So Far Away”— “Holding you again could only do me…
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