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LifeRing Recognized in Professional Journal
Martin Nicolaus, LifeRing’s founding leader and author of our three LifeRing books, passes along this mention of LifeRing in a recent article co-authored by the widely-respected writer on addiction William L. White. John Kelly was the other author and the passage appeared in the Journal of Groups in Addiction and Recovery under the title “Broadening…
‘We look at red wine like it’s dark chocolate’ — New Book Examines Women and Alcohol
Anne Dowsett Johnston is the author of a new book entitled Drink that explores the relationship between women and alcohol. In a recent interview, Johnston said, “‘We look at red wine like it’s dark chocolate, … We know the downsides of the tanning bed and trans fats, but not the downside of our favorite drug.’…
A View on LifeRing’s “Structure”
LifeRing member Byron Kerr shares some thoughts on LifeRing’s approach to providing structure in recovery: I recently heard a proposal in a LifeRing forum that, “some people just need the structure of 12-Step.” This reflects an assumption that LifeRing is somehow unstructured. While it is true that we do not offer a single “official” structure as to…
On Counting Sober Time
A member of the LifeRing board of directors writes about the issue of ‘counting the days’ since one’s last use of alcohol or other drug: It was helpful for me to tally the years from birth to about 35 and include them in my sober time, an idea I kind of gleaned (perhaps taking some liberties…
LifeRing is present at Treatment Professionals’ Annual Conference
LifeRing board member Jeff K. submitted the following report about his attendance at the annual CAADAC conference in Sacramento: The 2013 Annual Conference of the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors was held in Sacramento earlier in October and LifeRing was there! As in several past years, we set up a table in the Exhibit Hall,…
You are NOT powerless!
One of the most-read items on this website is an essay by long-time LifeRing supporter Dr. Candice Shelby, an Associate Professor of Philosopy at the University of Colorado. I thought it might be worthwhile to draw your attention to it again. It encapsulates an important part of what LifeRing stands for. See it Here.
You Are Not Your Habits!! New Book Shows How to Break Free of Them
I recently read a book called The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business,” by Charles Duhigg. I think that many folks in early recovery, or in contemplation of recovery, will find this book enormously useful. It uses a number of real-life vignettes to illustrate the power of habit,…
Searching For Obamacare
The following is Part 1 in a series of posts regarding one slightly middle-aged, uninsured gal’s search for affordable, quality health care coverage in the age of Obamacare. In spite of the current battle in Washington, where the immediate toll for Congress’s feckless legislative filibustering will injure all but those who’ve waged it (their toll,…
In the Beginning…
This is the first in what will be a series of stories from LifeRing members about their experience in finding and joining LifeRing. In 1999, I was a “functional” addict steadily becoming less functional. I owned a bookstore in Port Angeles, WA, a small town about 50 miles west of Seattle. I’d been drinking for years,…