Larry Winter

Welcome back everyone to today’s blog. Occasionally people ask me about particular aspects of mental health and substance misuse conditions. Here is one aspect. What does Recovery mean? How will we know we are actively engaged in our Recovery? Let’s answer the first question. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA), […]

In several blogs, I mentioned Recovery is a lifelong journey. Early today I was virtually connected with an author group I have attended for a few years. The authors are from states in our country and other countries worldwide. We offer support, encouragement, ideas, and struggles with our writing careers. During the morning session, one

Is it fair for a person to reach out for services after not taking advantage of them on three previous occasions? Ron (a fictional person) approached a treatment provider to determine if he qualified for outpatient mental health and substance misuse services. The director of the program was blunt saying, “No” and was not arrogant

One of life’s toughest challenges is having faith in our Recovery process. A woman in Recovery is not in a support group, this does not discourage her from approaching peers. In her desperate need to heal herself, she expresses powerlessness and faith before a peer. She teaches others it’s ok to be helpless before people.

Recovery is beyond understanding rules and the 12-steps. Now, it is true that our Recovery has many traditions, such as therapy, support groups, psychiatry, peer support, and a host of other traditions defined by the principles of Recovery. But traditions all point us in the right direction to find healing and love. That is why

My depression and anxiety are holding steady as my mind adjusts to the reduction in medication. How do I know this? I have a daily journal where I write down my mood level. I use a simple scale from 1 to 10, 1 equaling darkness and 10 equaling joy, peace, and contentment. During the past

Today’s blog may seem a little dark. The content is necessary for us to hear on our healing journey. I share these words to offer hope for us and my love for our Recovery. I was not a big fan of haunted houses as a child. I entered them with great trepidation hoping nothing would

A few blogs ago I spoke about my reduction in medication. I want to thank you for emailing me saying you will keep me in your prayers. I have not noticed a decline in my mood during the past week. I still experience drowsiness and extreme constipation, which happen to be side effects of the

One of my favorite gospel passages is Mark 4:1-20 a parable of the sower and the seed. I have read and heard this passage often and yet these words take my heart deeper on my journey of Recovery again and again. God desires our friendship and the word of God is a light for our

Recovery brings to the surface feelings that are confusing because they are buried inside our bodies. We tend to operate in the world primarily from our necks up. When we open up to our feelings, we may act out to cope with their intensity or deny having any feelings. A skill we may find helpful