Recovery & Growth

Recovery & Growth — what we offer to readers on this topic... — what we offer to readers on this topic...

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Disney Magic and Faith

by Tom Adams | Jul 27, 2021 | Recovery & Growth, Spirituality & Love

Last week my wife and I took our 13-year-old grandson to Disney World in Florida as a birthday treat. We joined thousands of other people at Epcot one day and at Animal Kingdom the next. Given the 90 plus heat and the crowds, I approached this trip with mixed feelings – anticipation of my joy of being with him and his joy of being there. Yet I feared the heat and crowds. In Disney speak, they call my experience “the magic.” In my faith, we would call it a miracle.

Faith and Community

by Tom Adams | Jun 29, 2021 | Recovery & Growth, Spirituality & Love

Our local movie theatre reopened recently with a showing of
Nomadland. What a wonderful way for the theater and the people who attended to come out of Covid-time. The movie is a sweet story of a woman whose husband dies and loses her job to a factory closing. Then she loses her community due to the loss of a major employer. She takes to the road with her losses, her pain and her inkling of residual hope.

How I Found My “Graceful” Higher Power by Rhonda Israel

by Rhonda Israel | Jun 22, 2021 | Recovery & Growth, Spirituality & Love

The “Higher Power” (who I grew up calling G-d) was punitive and finger-pointing. I grew up in a secular Jewish home, and religion was not discussed, except when it was punitive. For example, the idea of “sinning” and “punishment” were often described. I was angry a lot at Him because I felt cheated; cheated of a “loving family,” a “fun childhood” and “life without compulsive overeating.”

Facing addictions in families – A community and societal challenge

by Tom Adams | Jun 1, 2021 | Leadership & Transitions, Recovery & Growth

Addictions continue to negatively impact and destroy families. There are lots of possible explanations for the lack of progress in addressing addictions. The consistent reality is that the combination of individual denial and community and societal pressures...

Practical suggestions for facing addictions and finding serenity

by Tom Adams | May 25, 2021 | Recovery & Growth, Spirituality & Love

The last few weeks I have been marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of Al-Anon by exploring the broad tentacles of the family disease of alcoholism. As I mentioned in my May 4 post, there are many other addictions besides alcohol that negatively impact individuals and families. Next week I will get more specific with the help of guest writer Jeffrey Roth, M.D, on why it is true that most people are impacted and might benefit from a program like Al-Anon.

Treating Depression and Anxiety as Part of the Family Disease of Addiction

by Tom Adams | May 18, 2021 | Recovery & Growth, Spirituality & Love

As part of my series on addictions and families, guest writer Jeffrey D. Roth, M.D. explores more deeply how depression and anxiety are symptoms for both the person with the addiction and for members of her or his family.

Recognizing the Addiction Family Disease

by Tom Adams | May 11, 2021 | Recovery & Growth

Addictions are part of our culture and human experience. Some appear less harmful, like distractions or annoyances. Others destroy the addict and those around him or her. Because addictions are so embedded in our culture, it can be difficult to tell when an addiction...

Facing societal denial: family pain, addictions and Al-Anon

by Tom Adams | May 4, 2021 | Recovery & Growth, Spirituality & Love

The last year has resulted in increased use of alcohol, food, drugs, and behaviors like gambling and debting as people have tried to escape COVID and the uncertainty and pain that has resulted. Liquor sales are up, gambling advertising now competes with pharmaceuticals for ad space, and our social networks are full of chatter about diets, working too hard, and drinking and drugging escapes.

Lois Wilson: A Leader to Learn From

by Tom Adams | Mar 9, 2021 | Leadership & Transitions, Recovery & Growth

While Anne was quiet and known for her welcome and quiet service to hundreds of wives of alcoholics, Lois was more outgoing. She was the social glue who kept the couples together who went on to become the early A.A. members and spouses.

Anne Smith: A Midwest Champion for Women

by Tom Adams | Mar 2, 2021 | Leadership & Transitions, Recovery & Growth, Spirituality & Love

Hundreds of wives of men with drinking problems from all over the nation came to call her Anne S. or Annie.

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