People in long-term recovery know the drill. They have been down. They got up. And they’re staying up. With some training and supervision, they can share their experience, understanding and reassurance with others who are recovering from substance use disorder. In fact, they may be able to help others become ready and willing to seek …
The Phoenix · Get Up and Sing: The Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge Choir Sunday morning is not the time for sleeping off a bad night of boozing or shooting up. Nor is it time for making more broken promises to yourself that you know you’re going to break. At least that’s true for choir …
We feature an expert in the mental health and substance use disorder field to answer questions. This issue we talk to Nadya Trytan about Drama Therapy and how it can assist those in recovery and those with mental health issues. Q: What is Drama Therapy? I am frequently asked this question, and there is so much …
The Phoenix · Head to the Barn to Horse Around Anne K. was having a bad day. An unpleasant experience while shopping set off massive feelings of anxiety. Her husband knew what would calm her. He pulled up on his phone a photo of one of Anne’s horses with a rainbow in view behind it. …
All my life I wanted to learn how to scuba dive. It was just one of those things I felt I had to do, not just to explore the mystery of the deep seas, but more importantly to explore and conquer something inside myself. You see all my life I’ve needed to be in control …
The Phoenix · Where the Truth Lies (Why We Lie and How to Stop) We all lie more than we’d like to think we do – to look good, to avoid trouble, to keep safe. But addicts lie as if their life depends on it. They say and do whatever is necessary to hide their …
I was in the middle of what I thought was a soulful, honest share when a voice bellowed from the back of the room. I turned to see a crusty old guy, holding an unlit cigar, who looked impatient for me to either finish baring my soul or move on to a different subject. “It’s …
That night–fall of my senior year–was a Saturday night, so I headed to a party. A bonfire tucked in the woods off Hwy. 55, where we could drink underage to excess. I had a bottle of Seagram’s in my jacket along with a liter of Seven Up. Didn’t take long before I was smashed. I …
By the time this story is published, over 5 years will have passed since I began my journey in recovery. Today I have solid friendships, a sense of purpose, satisfaction and a level of serenity in my life that I never dreamed possible. One of my pursuits is volunteering and being a vocal advocate for …
Every New Year, I take some time to reflect on the past year – looking at the challenges I have surmounted, the opportunities for growth that I navigated, and the areas in which I hope to continue growing and learning into the New Year. I will join the chorus of people singing the same sentiment: …
