Real people sharing real stories about their experience with substance abuse and mental health.
During my twenty-five year career in substance abuse treatment, I’ve frequently heard family members (and clients) insist that "Alcohol isn't his/her/my problem - drugs are!" and "Alcoholism isn't his/her/my problem - addiction is!" as if the same principles of recovery from chemical dependency don't apply to any dysfunctional situation where alcohol either isn't present or isn't present enough to be identified as the primary drug-of-choice.
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The holiday season can be a crazy time of the year, and staying sober and sane for the holidays can be a challenge. With all the heavy traffic, crowded malls with last-minute shoppers, travel delays, and just the stress of reuniting with family and
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I’m what some people would call a “normie.” I learned this term while working in the field of substance abuse. Basically, a normie is someone who is able to have one drink and then stop, or take pain pills as prescribed and then stop when the p
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On October 31st, my son celebrated one year of sobriety! What better way to put it? It’s a celebration, one of which I prayed many nights to happen. Through the much needed support, guidance and trust of Josh Gamaitoni (former Client Services Rep),
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As the wife of an Army Ranger and First Gulf War Veteran, I’ve always been proud of my husband and the sacrifices he has made for our country, but I never really understood the toll it would have on him. When we got married, I knew he had nightmares
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By: Anna Mason, BS, CAP, Therapist at Transformations
Just as a child enters the doors of kindergarten, an addict enters the doors of a treatment center with a fear of the unknown, with anxiety of what is to come, and resistance to take a look at
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By: Phillip S., Transformations alumnus
As I walk through the valley of the….
Man, screw the shadow of death, I’m not about to rest
I got a lot of life left, he’s about to be out of breath
I’ve survived all his tests
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By: Laura Lawrence, MA, CAP, Director of Outpatient and Family Services
Time and time again we hear that addiction is a family disease. What exactly does that mean? We aren’t the ones using alcohol and drugs! It is often difficult for us to
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The rate of suicide among firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement officers, military, trauma workers and other first responders is steady on the rise. First responders experience the worst stress and trauma daily, which often affects their mental h
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Addiction has laid an early claim to the lives of some of the world’s greatest musicians: jazz icons like Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday, rock legends such as Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain, and pop superstars Prince and Whitney Houston were all in the throes of active addiction when they met their untimely ends.
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