Articles
My Memories of a War-Torn Life
The damage my mom incurred growing up during war times is only understood by war survivors, veterans, and their children. We get each other’s pain that few others do.
Beware the Masks of Addiction
If we sacrifice our truth for the sake of the mask’s persona, then the illusion of the mask begins to drive our perception, choices, and relationships.
Opioid Addiction: Is This a War We Can Win?
Those who are familiar with “recovery from addiction” know that solving the crisis requires action. The battle lines are clear; it’s time to take a stand.
Older Adults and Mental Health
While many older Americans are embracing an entirely new attitude toward aging, many are still caught up in the stigma and isolation of our attitudes around mental health.
Recovery Is Not Immune From the Effects of Trauma
My work as a clinical psychologist has led me to understand that trauma may account for the lions’ share of recoverable substance abuse and behavioral health disorders.
Focus on Older Adults: May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May 16 - 22 is Older Adult Mental Health Week. Depression, elder abuse and substance abuse/addiction are compromising the health and well-being of our older adult population.
A Toxic Coupling: Codependence & Drug Addiction
"Intervention Codependent" exposes the dual addiction of drug use & codependency. Interventionist Kristina Wandzilak claims "Behind every addict is an equally great codependent".
Lessons on Addiction: Learned and Not Yet Learned
Even away from reality show lights, Lamar Odom could not escape the glare of public scrutiny.
Is Fame Really Worth Risking Mental Health?
I would not have predicted the stranglehold it Reality TV would come to have on “entertainment” today. It wasn’t a bad notion to use TV to shed light on the human condition.
Peace Is An Achievable Goal
“Peace” is a prevalent theme this time of year. “Peace on Earth”, “World Peace”, etc. are lofty ideals that we aspire to because they connect us with others outside of ourselves.
Emotional Safety: What Does It Really Mean?
“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are." Truer words were never spoken when it comes to embracing our own emotional safety as caregivers.
There's No Excuse for Elder Abuse
The National Center on Elder Abuse reports that one to two million Americans over the age of 65 have experienced some form of abuse at the hands of a caregiver.
Nutrition for Your Mind and Body
When I hear the word “nutrition,” I automatically think of food for the body; giving my body the proper nutrition to function at its best. However, in the realm of self care, nutrition is also necessary for the mind and even the spirit.
Self Care and the Happy Heart
In keeping with our theme of self care, it is time to celebrate National Heart Month. So, yes, we’re going to talk about love; self love. Self love is not at all about being self-centered in a selfish, “all about me” way. It’s really about honoring our feelings.
Self Care - Don't Leave Your Self on the Shelf!
It seems that our ever moving, faster and faster paced culture has created in us the notion that taking care of ourselves...
Necessary Conversations in Caregiving - Part 1
How do you begin talking to your loved one about the need for more or different care?
Please Allow Mindy to Rest in Peace
The exploitive media frenzy surrounding the tragic death of Mindy McCready need not have happened. The confidential details of someone's medical chart should never be exposed for the media to sensationalize.
It's Time to Bring Mental Illness Out of the Shadows
Kathleen Sebalius, Secretary of Health & Human Services says, "...we are still a country that frequently confines conversations about mental health to the far edges of our discourse...This is a culture we all contribute to.
Life In the Recovery Room For Someone With Asperger Syndrome
We have descended into the world of psychopharmacology, acting as if simply taking a pill could really make a comprehensive and qualitative difference in someone's life.
Deciding the Future of Healthcare and Self-Care
Perhaps the most important question for each of us to ask ourselves is: “What kind of healthcare delivery and support system do I want in this country for myself, my kids and my grandkids?"
An Angel on This Earth, Enjoying Life a Day at a Time
This blog entry is dedicated to my friend and healthcare hero, Amy Berman, a pioneer in the world of caregiving and a force to be reckoned with in foundation grant making.
Caregiving in the Shadows
We know that the American Caregiver is an underserved population very capable and waiting to be educated, empowered and engaged in America's healthcare solutions.
A Holiday Heads Up! Eight Tips for Caregivers for This Season
Once again, the holidays are here. So many see such excitement, hope and celebration. However for caregivers, hope does not always spring eternal without careful planning.
It's Family Caregiver Month and Alzheimers Awareness Month
It's odd that we celebrate Family Caregiver Month and Alzheimer's Awareness Month in the same month. The theme we need to take away from this pairing is that each of our...
What Will You Be Doing at 3 PM on Monday?
This weekend there will be lots of picnics, family reunions and summer kickoff activities. Along with the revelry there will be drunk drivers arrested, barbeque flare-ups, sunburns...
America's Voyeurism and America's Escape from Self
Lindsay, Miguel, Charlie and Brittany, O' My! America; Heal Thyself. America is hypnotized by radio, reality and ravenous attention paid to other people's mental health.
Professional Caregiver: Heal Thyself!
Family caregivers are overwhelmed and underappreciated. I am preaching to the choir when I say that. As we talk about the "sandwich generation" or the "club sandwich" generation should not we also be aiming our attention back to the mirror and be speaking about "The Clinical Sandwich" generation as well?
Caregivers in Recovery- A Place of Strength and Hope
After 15 years of powerful When I had about 5 years into my recovery, my father went into the hospital for a relatively simple operation to reinforce a bad mitral valve in his heart. The doctors stated that he was “practically pediatric” at the age...
