A friend in the program texted me the other day, depressed about the news. “It just seems to get worse and worse,” he wrote, “I feel like the more sober I get, the more I pay attention. The more I pay attention, the more depressed I get.” I was in a rehab center when...
It is more difficult for some people than for others, but learning to connect to a higher power is key to successful, long-term sobriety. While I was still living in rehab, a recovery panel came to visit. One of the panelists, describing her daily routine, mentioned...
Searching for spirituality in early sobriety can seem daunting, but will liberate you in ways that may surprise you. When I was 13, I was kicked out of school for drinking and stealing. I grew up in a small town, and my shame was soon widely known. An aunt warned me,...
Are religion and the Twelve Steps interchangeable? “Yeah, I stopped going to meetings. I’ve got Jesus now.” Marc and I had been in rehab together. He had a little more sobriety than I did; he was the first person I ever saw take a 30-Day Chip. I had eight days at the...
