How to Support Your Spouse in Addiction Recovery

How to Support Your Spouse in Addiction Recovery

This post contains affiliate links. Realizing your partner has a problem with alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, gambling, or any other addiction is a very painful reality. The best case scenario is that your partner also recognizes his/her addiction and seeks help in order to recover. Unfortunately, recovery doesn’t go in a straight line. Most addicts struggle with denial, relapse, and changing […]

4 Smart Strategies for Coping with an Addicted Partner this Holiday

4 Smart Strategies for Coping with an Addicted Partner

The holidays can be a scary time when your partner’s an addict or alcoholic. Instead of visions of sugar plums, you may be having nightmares of: parties with alcohol DUI’s broken promises being embarrassed by your partner ruined holidays of the past receiving gifts of alcohol relapse strained family relationships stress over finances, long to-do lists The most important thing […]

Tips for Moderating Drinking

Moderating Drinking Alcohol is a common way for Americans to deal with stress. We hear a lot about denial as a barrier to change among addicts. I actually often see people in my practice who are quite insightful about their drinking. They come to me looking for help to moderate what they see as an unhealthy behavior.     I do […]

10 Signs you are a Perfectionist

  Perfectionism can be a serious barrier to success and happiness at work and in personal relationships. We might think having high standards is a good thing. However, perfectionists are so harsh and rigid in their thinking and behavior that it can become a problem. Here are 10 signs you are a perfectionist to help you get started. High expectations […]

Help! My teenager is acting out

Have you been wondering, is my teenager normal? Is s/he depressed? Is s/he using drugs? Am I a good parent? Parents often come to me when their teenager is acting out. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish normal teenage behavior from signs of depression, anxiety, trauma, or other maladjustment. Some warning signs include: substance use, truancy, failing grades, running away, defiance, moodiness, self-harm, […]

Am I an Alcoholic?

Am I an Alcoholic? The internet is full of quizzes, questionnaires, and self-assessments looking to answer the question “am I an alcoholic”? The answer, it seems, depends on who you ask. Let’s begin by trying to define the term alcoholic.