PAL Blog
A Parent’s Story
Articles by Parents Like You
PAL provided a way to cope with the hurt
I’ve had the privilege of participating in my local PAL meeting and can say the weekly materials that are shared, as well as the amazing support from other participants, have helped me get through some pretty dark days. My child began self-medicating at around...
Hope is possible even after relapse
A little more than four and a half years have passed since I wrote my first testimonial in late November 2019. My only child was released in April 2019 after spending five months in jail. He had been arrested for a missed court date related to drug paraphernalia...
Finding support, answers in our darkest hour
My wife and I committed our lives, our marriage, and our family to the Lord early in life. We were blessed with two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren. Brian, our second born, challenged with alcoholism, was always the sensitive, caring, loving...
The View from Recovery
Articles by People in Recovery
Be thankful for how you learned life’s lessons
I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. I've consistently been stubborn and obstinate when it comes to learning lessons and taking advice; there is something innate in my personality that tends to balk at suggestion, a burning desire to experience things firsthand...
I deserve what’s best for me
“We only want what’s best for you.” I remember hearing this phrase from my parents at 19 years old. It was the beginning of my battle with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Sitting in a hospital room after my first overdose on heroin, I truly...
Embracing the here and now
I’m writing this from the backseat of a Toyota Camry heading west on the I-10. Swaths of open desert painted green with brush, wildflowers dotting the freeway margins, with random bursts of brilliant yellow and purple, create a picturesque landscape. My...
From Counselors
Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
Is my life out of balance? Part 2
Last month we started a two-part series on the importance of a balanced life. I am hoping that after an assessment of those first six areas, you were able to start getting some of those needed areas back into balance. In part 1, we covered feelings, relationships,...
Is my life out of balance?
In my counseling practice I often notice that when my clients are dealing with a loved one with substance use disorder, they tend to have the spotlight focused solely on their loved one and forget that they have a life of their own to live. Eventually, when self-care...
Crisis = Opportunity = Transformation
With the new year upon us, tradition seems to suggest we look at things we would like to change in our lives. Although we certainly do not need to wait for a new year, if that is motivation, let’s seize it. For those who have...
