A different look. Alas, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted on this topic of mindfulness. Bogged down with the struggles over the science piece partly — also been busy getting active in the SR online community. Parenthetically, I invite you all to join me there — it’s become a very active and interesting Continue Reading
Mindfulness; a personal perspective and experience & Something unusual On most of the previous postings I’ve written about things that are abstract in nature. This time I’m going to talk a little bit about a personal experience that was so revolutionary to me that I thought it worthy of reporting. As many know here I Continue Reading
· You can’t be all things to all people · You can’t cover everyone/everything even in a modest sized meeting · People relapse in spite of your best efforts – it’s them and not you · Keep it simple · Remember that SMART Recovery® is solution focused, not problem focused as in AA · Let the group decide Continue Reading
This article linked below describes the deplorable state of research funding for addictions in the US today. The article provides some background on this issue as well as suggestions for rectifying the problem. I think the article bears scrutiny not only for the awareness and information provided but also to help us understand what we Continue Reading
I have not posted on the mindfulness subject in quite awhile. I plan on beginning again now that its summer . And first off is a list of books I recommend for those in the early stages. To follow will come a list for more advanced “practitioners” Reading list for Mindful Awareness For those early Continue Reading
Some suggested summer reading for those who might be interested in some recent more “advanced” topics: · Neuroscience of emotion, “The emotional life of your brain” by Richie Davidson · Neuroscience of addiction, “Memoirs of an Addicted Brain” by Marc Lewis · Excellent explanation of CRAFT, “Beyond Addiction” by Jeff Foote · Conflict resolution, “I’m Continue Reading
I often get asked in meetings about the possible passing of the addictive behavior by the attendees to their offspring via genetics. This is a complex issue and the field has now progressed nicely in the understanding of this issue – with rapidly developing understanding of epigenetics . a different form of inheritance . This Continue Reading
The following is an example of the lousy science I so often criticize in the psychiatry literature. It’s adding complexity over and over again. And to be honest smacks of attempts to create more business for people already hurting in a field that has lost its way. Psychiatrists have given up their real asset- talk Continue Reading
The following was written by Matt Robert who asked me to post it for him. He took over the McLean Detox visits for me recently , and this is his reflections on the experience. It is wonderful in many ways – You be the judge Chauvinism in recovery I’ve been spending a lot of time Continue Reading
Every once in a while a story comes along that is totally off topic but gives cause for pause and reflection. This is one about the head of the NIH, Frances Collins, and a young man named Sam Berns. The occasion is Sam’s death of OLD age at age 17. Sam had Progeria. He was Continue Reading