As I prepared to write this article, I was seeking to find a word that speaks about how I see the impact that stress has upon us and our recovery. The word that came to me was “tricky.” There can be too much stress in our lives that can lead to distress, and there can| The Phoenix Spirit
Let me introduce you to the Grande Dame of recovery in the upper Midwest. She is a beautiful, historic wood mansion built in 1887, bright cheery yellow trim on brown. She is beautiful not only for the structure but for what she holds. She IS 2218! She IS the world’s longest continuously running Alano and| The Phoenix Spirit
I'm Ryan J, a recovering alcoholic/addict. Born and raised in Minnesota. Raised by both father and mother and with a younger sister. In the suburbs of the Twin Cities. My childhood was a loving, secure and supportive family. No disfunction to speak of. Supportive and given freedoms that a typical child should have. Breakfast, lunch| The Phoenix Spirit
Let’s say you’ve landed in treatment. For the first time. Or for the umpteenth time. You can’t believe you’ll be stuck here for weeks, maybe months, with all these annoying people around you. You can’t believe you landed here, period. Your brain is pure fuzz. Your body craves just one thing – and you can’t| The Phoenix Spirit
I learned a lesson about grace when I experienced its flipside a number of years ago, after I was laid off from a corporate communications job in health care. Seeking employment, I dutifully worked my network, including a breakfast meeting with a woman I had recently worked with. She had just started a new job| The Phoenix Spirit
Minnesota North College nets funding for training counselors, changing lives of students in recovery The shortage of mental health professionals in Minnesota, including those working as licensed alcohol and drug counselors (LADCs), has been well documented. One in four jobs in the field is currently vacant, according to an April Minnesota legislative report. At the| The Phoenix Spirit