Aren’t Healthy Coping Mechanisms Enough?

“Healthy coping mechanisms” has become a common catchphrase in popular psychology today. It’s a catch-all term for self-care, emotional balance, rational reaction, and general mental and emotional well-being. Any number of healthy, clear-headed, and constructive tools and practices that allow us to process, deal with, and navigate life events are considered healthy coping mechanisms. They […]

The Spiritual Approach to Recovery

For most diseases that exist, there are multiple treatment options. There are very few monopolies on methodology when it comes to getting well, no matter what ails you. This holds true for alcoholism and addiction as well. There is no “one right way” to cure them, just as there is no one best antibiotic for […]

Don’t Try To Do Everything at Once

For anyone struggling with drugs and alcohol, finding recovery can often be an incredibly powerful and energizing experience. Once we’ve gotten over the initial culture shock and embraced a recovery lifestyle, we will likely find ourselves incredibly excited by the possibilities our new life holds. We no longer hurt all the time, we’ve stopped making […]

What Can I Do When I Feel Overwhelmed?

In these strange and scary times, it’s easy for anyone to get overwhelmed. We alcoholics and addicts are sensitive people for the most part, often prone to anxiety, depression, and panic. When the world has been turned upside down for pretty much everyone, it’s no wonder that our emotions are all over the place. Over […]

Cutting Through the Fog

Once we are freed from active alcoholism and addiction, we often feel a new clarity and vibrancy come over us. No longer beholden to our disease, we see the world a lot more clearly after working our 12-Steps and becoming a member of the recovery community at Jaywalker Lodge. We find inner peace no longer […]

Beginning 2014 Mindfully

Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally, as if your life depended on it.” John Kabat-Zinn As an alcoholic and an addict I have to agree with John Kabat-Zinn. When it comes to the practice of mindfulness I am certain, my very life does depend upon it. Just like working the […]

Mindfulness in Action

Last weekend, myself as well as the guys here at Jaywalker U took a trip to Moab, UT for one of our last days of transformational work with Johann Aberger. The guys of the house left on Friday, however my brother’s wedding was in Denver on Friday so I had to show up late. I […]