Drugs Have Made My Life Bearable

Drugs Have Made My Life Bearable

“Tripping Over Joy” What is the difference Between your experience of Existence And that of a saint? The saint knows That the spiritual path Is a sublime chess game with God And that the Beloved Has just made such a Fantastic Move That the saint is now continually...
PART 3:  Cravings and Forming Habits

PART 3: Cravings and Forming Habits

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits defines the Habit Loop as consisting of four components: the cue or trigger, the craving, the response and the reward. By breaking each component down he offers strategies for those who are attempting to create a new habit or...
Do This 1 Thing to Stay Off Opioids Forever

Do This 1 Thing to Stay Off Opioids Forever

Using willpower to change a behavior means working hard to achieve something; Merriam Webster defines will power as “energetic determination.” If I need willpower to accomplish something, then I am attempting a task that I feel some level of conflict about doing. Like...
The Connection Between Mental and Physical Pain

The Connection Between Mental and Physical Pain

My trauma occurred in February of 2011. As I stood in front of the podium and spoke at a state summit in Michigan, I recounted my trauma — my past — in front of a room filled with strangers. I shared my vulnerable story and my transition from victim to thriving...
Can I Really Be Addicted To Tramadol?

Can I Really Be Addicted To Tramadol?

If you think tramadol is a benign drug, think again. This past spring we met Frank, a middle-aged man from the southwest who was using large amounts of tramadol daily, originally for back pain. His doctor prescribed a certain amount, the rest he purchased online. He...