There are a multitude of reasons why people suppress their grief. At the time of death, we don’t have the skills to process complex emotions, we lack healthy role models for grieving, or we see ourselves as the strong one in the family, so we’re stoic.  We may have an acute or chronic medical illness …

Imagine you are 14 years old. Your parents blast you with venomous comments when they are in a drug stupor, or they disappear for days. Or maybe they push you to go to school when you are so depressed and scared that you wish you could die. You only go because the fentanyl is there …

We feature an expert in the mental health and substance use disorder field to answer questions. This issue we talk to Rebecca “Becky” Bjorklund of Meridian Behavioral Health about the process of entering treatment. Q: Would you be able to provide some insights into your professional background, your present role, and the aspects of your …

Perfectionist. Smart. Beautiful. These are a few of the many positive words that I was known by as a young teenager. On the outside, I was the girl who seemed like she had it all. The girl who had great friends, a boyfriend, was a cheerleader, and more. However, while the outward appearance and demeanor …

Addiction and Recovery Director Jeremy Drucker begins his tenure under the office of the governor. His goal is to make an impact on the state’s efforts to stem the rising cases of overdoses and offer resources throughout Minnesota to help those in recovery. We wanted to know a little more about Drucker and what he …

Smell is the strongest of our human senses. That makes it both a gift and a curse. If you want to inhale the beautiful, soft scent of the newest rose in your garden, it’s a gift; but if you’re passing the sewage treatment center, well, think again! In the book, Perfume: The Story of a …

“In the short term if I feel loneliness, it’s like any other biological signals. It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s alerting me that something that’s critical for my survival is missing. ” —Vivek Murthy I suppose it was inevitable. I thought I was past the possibility. We were done with Covid—a story to tell our …

Many years ago in the late 70s, American Express had an ad about their credit card and their hopes for people who had one of their cards – “Don’t leave home without it.” With their credit card, a person would never be in a situation where if the spirit moved them to make a purchase, …

“Oh yes, I’m the great pretender, Pretending that I’m doing well, My need is such I pretend too much, I’m lonely but no one can tell…” —From Buck Ram’s “The Great Pretender” These days too many of us lack an identity. We may say we are our own persons and claim to be independent. Yet …

The reward for living a good, clean, and sober life is…a good, clean, and sober life. I read that in a recent article in the Grapevine, AA’s monthly magazine, and it really resonated with me. Simple yet wise. I don’t give myself enough credit—and I suspect many of my fellow recovering alkies and addicts don’t …