Tag Archives: Addiction

I Hear her Voice

I can still hear it—a voice as lovely and lively as she was. “Hi, Karen,” she’d say, when I answered one of her daily phone calls. She was always happy to hear my voice. Today, I would do anything to … Continue reading

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My Last Drunken New Year: Cheers to Sobriety

On December 31, 2001, I was still struggling with alcohol misuse. I’d been concerned about my drinking for a while, and had even explored treatment at a local facility. I wasn’t ready, though, and convinced myself, and my husband, that … Continue reading

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Reflections in Recovery: Thoughts on Matthew Perry’s Autobiography, his Death, and the Drug Ketamine

Matthew Perry’s memoir hit me hard. The stretches of sobriety, heartbreaking relapses, and deeply-rooted resentments. Sure, there were moments of levity, laughter, and hope, fueled by Perry’s sheer determination to keep fighting, but there was an eerie sense of foreshadowing … Continue reading

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My 3-Pound Universe: The Realities of ADHD Relapse

When I feel bad mentally, I can usually trace it back to my ADHD. It’s a condition we often joke about, flippantly saying things like, “I’m so ADHD today,” or “Squirrel!” Of all mental illnesses, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is among the … Continue reading

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Why I Failed Dry January

Long before it was a thing, I gave Dry January my best shot. Almost every New Year, I resolved to quit drinking. Maybe not for an entire month, but almost a month. Or a couple of weeks. I fell short, … Continue reading

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Reflections in Recovery: 20 Years Sober

Today, June 21, 2022, I celebrate 20 years of sobriety. I’m grateful. And deeply reflective. In recovery, we’re not supposed to “regret the past, nor shut the door on it.” It seems I had done a bit of both. I … Continue reading

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Health is Health: Putting physical and mental health on the same plane could eliminate stigma

For years, I’ve been in the “eliminate stigma” camp when it comes to mental illness and addiction. After all, I struggled with undiagnosed ADHD, non-hyperactivity, and general anxiety disorder from childhood into adulthood. Along the way, I self-medicated with alcohol. … Continue reading

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My 3-pound universe: Irony, denial and addiction

In my early 20s, I went out with a nice guy. Over dinner, he shared that he was on Zoloft for depression. I recoiled. For starters, that’s not first-date material. Secondly, I was rife with judgment. I didn’t want to … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments