Awareness: A Vital Starting Point for Addiction
Awareness of a problem (like addiction) is a vital first step, but it must be followed by taking action. But awareness alone is not enough. What next?
Daniel D. Maurer
Daniel D. Maurer is a freelance writer, an award-winning Hazelden author, and a public speaker on recovery from addiction. He lives with his family in St. Paul, Minnesota.
3 Gifts Of Sober Parenting
The good news is that finding recovery and working hard are worth it. It’s more than making up for lost time; parenting in recovery realigns the parental instincts a person naturally should embody. For me, recovery made me the parent I was meant to be. The benefits far outweigh the damage I did in the past, and I’ve moved on. It still takes work though.
Building Healthier Boundaries in Sobriety
If you’re like me, the gap between healthy boundaries and unhealthy boundaries isn’t at all difficult to measure. Unhealthy boundaries generally equates with no boundaries. And, well, healthy boundaries are for the other idiots who don’t realize that you don’t need boundaries!
Tricky, Tricky—Prescription Pills & Addiction
What are the signs of addiction you should look for with prescription painkillers, stimulants, or benzos? More importantly, what do you have to gain by genuinely reflecting on your own use (or abuse) of pills and taking action to release yourself from their deadly grip?
New Year = New Change? Not Usually
Let’s Stop Pretending That an Arbitrary Date is Necessary for a New You.
How to Get Addiction Help When Responsibilities Govern Your World
Little kids? Important job? Do others depend on you? Getting sober just feels like it can wait until life is calmer. It can’t. Here’s the answer you’ve been looking for.
Staying on the Successful Path to Recovery through Financial Difficulties
Money, money, money. It doesn’t need to sabotage the recovery plan.
Why We Need Purpose & Meaning to Continue Successfully in Recovery
Getting Sober” is One Thing — Sustaining It For the Long Term is Another.
Parents in Recovery: Talking With Your Kids About Your Past Usage
If you’re like most addicts and alcoholics, you’ve gathered a collection of embarrassing, wild, funny, sad, and/or other jaw-dropping, crazy things you did while under the influence.
Boredom—Problem Itself or Symptom of Something Else?
From one recovering addict to another, I want you to know that I get it. I understand you, because I’m a lot like you. The fact is that if there were one trait I had to name that every person struggling with addiction owned, I’d have to say it’s our tendency to become easily bored. That, and also thrill seeking, I suppose. But they are related.
The Sexiness of Vulnerability
I want all the men out there who never took the time to consider emotional vulnerability—much less be vulnerable—to know the secret power of emotional vulnerability.
Men’s Work, Life, and Recovery
Most men strongly correlate what they do in their work life with their identity. What’s the problem? Well, when you’re looking at addiction or other life crises, it matters a lot. Because there’s nothing like an addiction or another major life challenge to turn not just your life upside down, but your job.
The Sneaky Unrecognized Signs Your Recovery Is Slipping
Addiction is serious. What’s important to know is that there are other more subtle, telltale signs that a relapse is in the works. What are they? Read on.
Men? Emotions? Um, Yup.
When it comes to recovery from addiction or other mental health issues, the myth of the emotionless man can be especially destructive.
Managing Pain in Addiction Recovery
Struggling to manage pain in addiction recovery? You aren’t alone, and you do have effective pain management options.
Getting Sober Together
Are there principles you can look to if you’re trying to get sober while your partner is as well? Does it ever work? And what pitfalls should you look out for? Here is a simple list of the most important essentials for laying a foundation to find recovery while you’re in a relationship.
