PAL Blog
A Parent’s Story
Articles by Parents Like You
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...
Finding joy in unexpected dreams
“God always allows us to feel the frailty of human love so we can appreciate the strength of His.” C.S. LewisI am a wife, a mother to four, handsome, beautiful, young adult sons, a caregiver to my husband, and a parent of two addicted loved ones.For as long as I...
Finding a path to wholeness
We are a family of five, one girl and two boys. We recently welcomed two grandchildren. All three of our children did a good job toeing the line through high school and we enjoyed most of their teenage years. Looking back, I could...
The View from Recovery
Articles by People in Recovery
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...
The future is bright
I’m sitting on a filthy curb of a strip mall. Scabs line my face. The crooks of my arms are swollen with sores. Fear and sadness burn in my chest in equal measure. I can’t think about anything anymore unless it involves eliminating my thinking with heroin....
Falling down is inevitable, staying there is not
The greatest achievements and accomplishments I’ve experienced have come at the cost of what felt like endless discomfort. Despite the insight I’ve gained over the years into this phenomenon, I still manage to occasionally lose sight and direction in the...
From Counselors
Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
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...
Spending time with family for the holidays without undoing progress
Spending time with your loved one who’s in early recovery can be an anxiety provoking time for all involved, let alone during the holidays, however, it doesn’t have to be. Before I dive in, let me tell you a little about...
