PAL Blog
A Parent’s Story
Articles by Parents Like You
Were my daughter’s issues caused by mental health or addiction?
My husband and I have been married for 25 years. We had two daughters, a little over three years apart. From the beginning Teri was extremely sensitive and creative. She really loved her older sister and even as a baby her face would just light up when she came into...
I’m the one who needs help
My son was an athlete and very successful. We spent countless hours together as he grew up, traveling the state for baseball tournaments, practices, and social functions; baseball was our life. I was a single dad doting on his every need as he was an only child and I...
How PAL Helped my Relationships
When I found PAL, I had no idea it would have such a powerful impact on so many of my relationships. Yes, I have three children I came for, but now realize I am here not only for them, but for my mom, and my brother and sister-in-law. There is a long history of...
The View from Recovery
Articles by People in Recovery
Blaming someone else for my struggles
In my disease I felt like life was unfair on a daily basis; that things were constantly “happening” to me with little provocation on my own part, and that I’d never be able to find peace or serenity as long as these outside forces continued to work against me. I...
When I had no love for myself, others did
There was a period of time, in the earlier days of my struggle with active addiction, where I had little to no interest in getting better. Typically, in the form of pressure from family, intervention, friends, even the judicial system at a certain point, I found...
Strength Comes From Trying Times
The human body is constantly striving for homeostasis. We inherently try (without even recognizing it) to maintain an equal, steady, even-keeled, and most importantly safe state. Of course this is typically in reference to physiological processes literally keeping our...
From Counselors
Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
Holiday Season Preparation
I get many questions this time of year about navigating the holiday season with an addicted loved one. This is understandable, being that this season can bring all the family dynamics (positive and negative) front and center. Depending on the family’s past holidays...
Let’s Talk About Gratitude
It’s November! Let’s talk about gratitude. There is no better medicine to lift our spirits than a quick account of our blessings. What an incredibly powerful tool for changing our perspectives for the better. The happiest most resilient people I meet always seem to...
Is Relapse Part of Recovery?
I would like to share some of the most common questions I receive about relapse. I will answer them from an overview perspective and in a general sense. Relapse is a big topic, with many variables that are case specific. I don’t think it can be covered thoroughly in...
