I noticed on Reddit that was a rise of people looking for support, so I put together this easy-to-read list and posted it there and thought you might appreciate it here, as well.

Explore why emotional reactions feel intense in addiction recovery, and learn healing tools to regulate and grow your window of tolerance.

Are you someone who enjoys staying busy? Me too. I thought that since I was busy, I was in a healthy recovery and my healing journey was in great shape. But, of course, I was mistaken.

I was using productive numbing because I was still white knuckling my recovery. What looked like self-improvement to me was actually an unhealthy coping strategy.

That’s what I’m talking about today, the ways we cope that feel healthy, but might be hiding something deeper.

The Real Roots of Emotional Discomfort (and How They Get Wired Into Our Bodies)

Have you ever smelled someone’s cologne and it reminded you of your best friend from high school? Or heard the first few seconds of a song, and were instantly brought back to that moment you were driving down the road, wind blowing through your hair, not a care in the world? Me too. I love those comforting memories. They’re like warm mental hugs.

After disclosure, the same thing happened when I saw certain pictures pop-up on our digital picture frame (remember those?) or when I drove past a certain place. Except it wasn’t a warm, fuzzy feeling I was experiencing. It was cold daggers stabbing into my heart and brain. All in a matter of moments.

I’m unpacking more of that (the complex, deep parts) over on Substack if you want to join me there.

Okay, Bookenders, I know I mention self-care quite often. Like, a lot. Because self-care in healing and recovery is important. But, when you’re in the thick of healing, sometimes the usual “light a candle and journal it out” tips may not be enough. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good watermelon and lemonade candle moment. It’s under my warmer right now. But real self-care? The kind that helps you stay emotionally sober, break cycles, and not throw your phone across the room, that takes a little more creativity. Here are five self-care practices I’ve learned (some the hard way) that go beyond the surface and can help.

Check in with yourself using the Life Wheel: a simple, powerful tool for addicts in recovery and the loved ones healing alongside them.

After the response to my blog post and podcast on urge surfing, I realized something: it's one thing to read about the technique… but it's another thing entirely to practice it, especially when your nervous system is doing back springs inside your brain.

So I created a brand-new workbook to guide you through urge surfing, step by step.