In AA, step 5 is often looked at as one of the hardest steps that exists. Why? Because the 5th step in AA is confession—and confession is incredibly humbling and humiliating. If you’ve gone through confession before, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Talking about your deepest, darkest secrets isn’t exactly fun—it’s horrible. You […]
Alcoholics Anonymous, Coffee, and Recovery
I went to my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in 1993, and one of the first things I remember is that they had coffee for just a quarter a cup. The price around here hasn’t gone up, either. And no one gave me a hard time if I didn’t have a quarter to contribute; it was […]
EMDR and Trauma — How EMDR Can Help You Feel Better About Yourself
While cognitive therapies can be powerful and work wonders over time, many patients just can’t wait that long—that’s why I started using EMDR to treat trauma. If there is one thing that every patient I see wants to work on, it is feeling better about themselves. Whether it’s low self-esteem or self-worth, or feelings of […]
The Causes of Substance Abuse — My Experience
The causes of substance abuse are broader than most people understand. It’s not just about the genetic component. It’s not just about mental health issues. Rather, it’s about all kinds of issues combined into a sort of mishmash of craziness. Here are some of the causes of substance abuse: Environment Using when you’re young The […]
My Nonfiction Story “I Am an Abscess” Was Published in J Journal
This true story, “I Am an Abscess,” is about a time when I sold drugs to high school kids with a heroin addict who was dating one of them. He was in his twenties. It was a pretty fucked up situation. You can read the whole story here.
My Story “Gravity Pulls Down” Was Published as a Podcast in StarShipSofa
I’m pretty proud of this podcast story. A lot of work went into this short story. “Gravity Pulls Down” is about an addict addicted to a new drug called Gravity that has some strange effects. You can listen to the podcast of the story here.
Japa Meditation and Mantras Are the Easiest Forms of Meditation
When it comes to meditation, Japa Meditation is what I turn to again and again. How many times have I gone to a 12 step meeting and heard—or either said myself in some form—“I’m no good at meditation,” or, “I just can’t seem to sit still,” or, “I just don’t know how to meditate.” I […]
12 Steps Without God — Is It Possible?
The 12 steps without god — can it be done? It’s a question I’ve asked myself on numerous occasions, the main reason for which is that I don’t believe in god. And yet I work the 12 steps. And yet I stay sober. What does that mean? Here’s what I want you to remember—god is […]
How Do You Get Sober? Do This
How do you get sober? As someone who has struggled with substance abuse, this is a question that I have probably asked a hundred times. You might be a person with a similar experience. You might be asking yourself the same question. Perhaps you are asking because you have a spouse or family member who […]
The Use of Yoga for Addiction Recovery in Treatment
Many treatment centers are now offering yoga for addiction recovery for their clients, from detox through sober living. This can be a beneficial tool, but it can also backfire if not handled carefully and properly. Unfortunately, the clients are the ones who may suffer. Yoga isn’t just another form of exercise, like going to the […]
Is Lyrica Addictive? It Was the Worst Detox of My Life
Is Lyrica Addictive? My personal experience has been that it is. This is a short testimony of my experience with the frequently prescribed drug known as Lyrica, also known as Pregabalin. Medication can impact one person one way and then the other a different way, so keep that in mind while I go over what […]
My Meth Story — The Height of My Drug Addiction by Michael Palma
This is my meth story. I have been through what I thought were the depths of hell when my every-day heroin addiction in New York was in full flight. Well, my heroin addiction doesn’t even come close to where my meth addiction story took me. Y’all ready to go on a ride? Yee-Haw! My Meth […]
Is Adderall Addictive? Definitely — It’s Dangerous Too
Is Adderall Addictive? My experience has been that it is. Maybe you were a kid that had a hard time paying attention in class. Maybe when you started college for whatever reason you had a hard time focusing on your professor’s long and elaborate lectures. Adderall is a prescription drug that is frequently prescribed to […]
Heroin Addiction Stories — Jazz and Heroin: My Real-Life Heroin Addiction Story
Heroin addiction stories run the gamut, and I hate to say it this way, but I can tell you that mine is one of the worst you’ll ever read. I can tell y’all one thing for certain: I got introduced to an adult world at a very young age. The reason for this was because […]
Getting Sober — The Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done
Getting sober is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve done a lot of things that were hard. I’ve moved across the country and left women I loved. I’ve moved across the country with no idea what I would face when I got there—multiple times. I’ve completed multiple degrees, including a master’s degree. I’ve worked […]
Is Gabapentin Addictive? It Was for Me
Is Gabapentin addictive? My experience has been that it is. This is a short testimony of my experience with the frequently prescribed drug known as Gabapentin. Gabapentin is prescribed for seizures and nerve pain, but it’s also prescribed for anxiety. A common question asked by many prior to taking a medication is this: is the […]
Grief and Addiction in the Time of a Pandemic
Grief and addiction can be so intertwined in the addict as to be almost inseparable. Opposition to change, and an unwillingness to be uncomfortable, is at the heart of the addict’s reaction to grief. Dealing with grief—processing grief—is a skill every person, addict or not, must learn in order to live an emotionally healthy and […]
My Nonfiction Essay “Two-Legged Virus” Was Published by Superstition Review
An essay I wrote about helping others who may not deserve help was published recently by the Superstition Review. Here is a snippet of the story. Two-Legged Virus I want you to know the suffering of the redwood. Gods that lived thousands of years.Until we came along. Do you suppose these giants of the Earth […]
What It’s Like to Have Anxiety
What it’s like to have anxiety is like having a rock on your chest. It’s like having your breath taken away in the worst way possible. It’s like this low-level, unplaceable fear that comes from nowhere and everywhere. Anxiety is like fear, except it’s not. It’s this thing that eats you alive, that takes you […]
Are Hallucinogens Addictive? Yes–Here’s Why
Are hallucinogens addictive? I can give you my experience, but I can also tell you that I know numerous addicts who would tell you that hallucinogens are absolutely addictive. I’ve been addicted to a lot of drugs, most of them what you would consider hard drugs. Methamphetamine/amphetamines, heroin, alcohol, benzodiazepines—even marijuana. I’ve taken maybe a […]
Is Alcoholism a Mental Illness? Absolutely
Alcoholism is absolutely a mental illness, and so is drug addiction. They’re as dangerous as depression, as debilitating as anxiety, and as horrible as OCD. Setting aside for a moment the fact that alcoholism is defined as a mental illness by just about any doctor you’ll talk to (and is also defined that way in […]
Long-Term Effects of Substance Abuse
The long-term effects of substance abuse can be incredibly serious. Substance abuse destroys lives. When you use drugs for a short time, you may not experience negative repercussions, but any length of use exposes you to possible long-term addiction and potentially devastating effects. Knowing these long-term effects of substance abuse may help stop you, or […]
A Chapter from My Book About Drug Addiction “Ghost” Was Published by The Doctor T. J. Eckleburg Review
A chapter from my book about drug addiction titled “Ghost” was published recently in The Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review. Here’s a snippet of it. A Chapter from My Book About Drug Addiction I live in a world of spirit. Each day I am sober is miraculous and terrifying. Each day I am sober should not […]
Step 4 AA | Time for Action
Step 4 of AA is intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Up to this point in the 12 steps, we’ve done nothing more than answer 3 questions and make a decision. In step 1, we admitted that we were powerless over drugs and alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable. Those are a […]
Step 3 AA | Turned Our Will and Our Lives Over to “God”
Step 3 of AA is something I’ve seen hundreds of people struggle with. It’s so hard that many people just can’t get past it at all. But step 3 doesn’t have to be so bad. There are a few ways of looking at it. And to tell you the truth, you don’t have to believe […]
A Chapter of My Addiction Memoir / Alcoholic Memoir Titled “Unbridled” Was Published Recently
I recently wrote an addiction memoir / alcoholic memoir about my experiences using and drinking and then getting sober. The first chapter I’ve had published titled Unbridled was published recently in Another Chicago Magazine. You can read it in its entirety here, but here is a snippet of the story. Unbridled from my Addiction Memoir […]
How to Be Sober | Surviving Early Sobriety | 3 Powerful Tools I Still Use Today
Learning how to be sober is tough, especially when you’ve been drinking/using for years or decades, but surviving early sobriety doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. Addicts and alcoholics are survivors, but nothing takes survival skills quite like recovery. Getting off drugs and alcohol is so hard. Getting that first step down […]
Overcoming Fear
Overcoming fear can seem impossible, especially if you suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder like I do. Sometimes fear feels so completely overwhelming that we’re paralyzed. Sometimes it feels like fear’s got us by the balls and won’t let go. What do we do then? It’s a hard question to answer, especially when your heart is […]
Step 2 AA—This Is Why It Can Be so Hard
Step 1 is the hardest step. It’s a bitch. But step 2 of AA can be just as difficult. It’s a deceptive step. Many people think that they have it the moment they walk in the door because they believe in a higher power–some god from their religion. I think that’s why step 2 in […]
Addiction Podcast—Seasons of Sobriety
I recently appeared on another awesome addiction podcast called Seasons of Sobriety Listen Now Here’s a few notes on the podcast. Listen to the Addiction Podcast This episode features Adam F. from the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Adam has been sober since August 11, 2011 In Adam’s story you will learn how he dealt with his […]
Recovery Podcast–The Bubble Hour
I recently appeared on The Bubble Hour, an incredible podcast that you guys have got to check out. Listen Now Here’s what the podcast is about: “Adam recounts his early experiences with drugs and alcohol, and describes how he tumbled instantly into addiction at a young age. His problems began to compound as drug use led […]
What Are Boundaries? Setting Boundaries with an Alcoholic or Addict
Boundaries are rules that we set with other people. These rules govern what they can and cannot do to or with us, but they also describe the consequences of what will happen if those boundaries are crossed. Setting boundaries is healthy, and for most people, this is just sort of done naturally. They’re happy to […]
God and the 12 Steps–Should God Be Taken Out of the Literature?
Religion and politics remain controversial topics that good edicate would suggest you leave out of Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner conversation. However, though 12 step meetings have no opinion on politics, they do talk about God, and quite a bit. God and the 12 steps are so closely aligned that they’re pretty much inseperable. The idea […]
Meditation Course–Week 1 of Getting Back Into Meditation
Second only to step 10, meditation has long been the bane of my program, and though I’ve thought for a long time that I should try a meditation course, I kept putting it off and putting it off. The reason I thought I should try a course is that I’ve never really been able to […]
13th Stepping—The Biggest Danger in AA
AA is full of predators. I used to be one. 13th stepping is when someone with a lot of time sober (2 years+) hooks up with newcomers (people with little sober time—think 3 months or less). Just so we’re clear, the 13th step is not an actual step (it is the 12 steps after all…). […]
Published on SoberHustle—The Pain of Steps 6 & 7
Steps 6 and 7 are so incredibly important. I’ve written about them before for Solutions of North Texas, and they’re something I never tire of because of how powerful a role they play in deciding how happy or unhappy my sobriety is going to be. Here’s a little snippet of the post. The Pain of […]
Published in Recovery Today Issue 68: Am I Powerless? The First Step
Recovery Today magazine is an incredible publication that’s perfect for people like us. They recently published my experience with step 1. You can get Recovery Today free on your smart device here. Here’s a little excerpt of what I wrote. Am I Powerless? The First Step They say the first step takes the longest. I’ve […]
Steps 6 and 7—Separating the Living From the Dead
I recently wrote a blog post for Solutions of North Texas about steps 6 and 7 and how critical they are for anyone who wants long-term sobriety. The most pain I’ve ever felt in sobriety was from not working these steps. Here’s a little snippet of the article, but you can read the entire post […]
Step 1 AA—Can It Be Done Perfectly?
Step 1 of AA: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol (and drugs)—that our lives had become unmanageable.” I’m sure we’ve all heard this in meetings before: “Step 1 is the only step you have to do perfectly.” I always wondered what the hell that meant. How can a step be done perfectly? What does […]
How to Help an Addict
Trying to help an addict can be one of the most difficult and frustrating experiences of anyone’s life, especially if the addict has been using for a long time. The truth is that helping an addict is almost impossible when they’re not ready. So many of my sponsees are scared of sponsoring. They think they’ll […]
The Stages of My Alcoholism
The First Stage of My Alcoholism—It Runs in the Family I’m 14. We go to visit my grandmother. She’ll die a few years later. She’s drinking a handle of Jack Daniels by herself. It will be decades before I learn that my grandfather had decades of sobriety. It will be a decade before I learn […]
Addicted to Xanax | How Xanax Almost Killed Me
Being addicted to Xanax is like living in dark room with a slow strobe light. Wake up. Flash. It’s night time. Wake up. Flash. It’s the next morning and I’m lying next to a dumpster in the sun. Wake up. Flash. It’s a week later and everyone is mad. Wake up. Flash. I’m in the […]
Addicted to Meth—Why the Crystal Meth High Is an Awesome Lie
If heroin is a dragon, then meth is a vile, sleazy murderer, a slinking thief that slips a knife into your reality and leaves you wondering what’s true, what’s a lie, and who’s coming to kill you (when really it’s always been the meth). And yet when it whispers to you, it tells you these […]
Why Is Heroin so Addictive? Here’s Why
This is why heroin is so addictive: it’s more powerful than any opiate that exists. Opiates are my first love. If OxyContin was my first girlfriend, then heroin became my wife. Heroin is so addictive. So so so addictive. And the reason is simple. It washes everything away. The reason I loved OxyContin is that […]
Is Sober Living a Good Idea? What the Sober Living Environment Is Like
Sober living is probably the only reason I made it through the first six months of my sobriety. The environment in most sober living facilities is not nearly as bad as most people think it is. I was scared to go, but once I got there, I found something incredible: a large group of men […]
Writing Workshops Dallas Helped Me Finish My Addiction Memoir
About a year ago, I decided to write an addiction memoir in the style of Denis Johnson’s Jesus’ Son (my favorite short story collection of all time and a huge influence on my nonfiction). After finishing the first draft of the addiction memoir, which ended up at about 300 pages, I lost all momentum. The […]
God and Sobriety—My Story on The Way Out Sober Podcast
I recently had the incredible opportunity to be a guest on The Way Out Podcast this past week and had so much fun talking to Jason. It’s long, but we got into some deep spiritual shit. Give it a listen.
Addicted to Weed
I’m in an outpatient psychiatric facility, a partial hospitalization program I signed up for after a second suicide attempt. I’m smoking weed before I go in every morning, and I’m smoking as soon as I get out. They have a little questionnaire that you fill out every day. One of the questions is “Did you […]
What’s Rehab Like? It’s Like High School (Seriously)
I’ll never forget first time someone told me they’d been to a drug rehab. It was like talking to a leper. I was still using, and I would continue to use for another couple years. I’d never even heard of Cocaine Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous before. I had no idea what happened in rehab. I […]
Are 12-Step Groups Cults? Are Groups Like PPG Toxic For Recovery? Maybe
In the recovery community, we have to grapple with this question all the time: are 12-step groups cults? The answer is complicated. As far as what an addict/alcoholic needs to do to be successful in their recovery, there are many opinions and suggestions, and sometimes they can be so different that the newcomer doesn’t know […]
This Is Why Addicts Can’t Stop
You’ll hear a lot of reasons why addicts can’t stop doing drugs and why alcoholics can’t stop drinking, but the main reason they can’t stop is because they literally cannot stop—their brains won’t allow it. If they would, and they truly wanted to, I promise you that they could (some don’t want to stop, and […]
Is Cocaine Addictive? Yes and No
Depending on how you define addiction, there’s an argument to be made that cocaine is both addictive and not addictive at the same time. I know this sounds confusing, so let’s look at how we define addiction. Most normal people think of addiction as physical dependence: a junky can’t stop shooting heroin because, if they […]
Are You Sober If You’re on Suboxone? I Wasn’t
Are you sober if you’re on Suboxone? It’s a question that many opioid addicts have to ask themselves, especially when facing the question of eventual Suboxone withdrawal. When I woke up in a detox in 2011, the doctor said, “We’re going to put you on Suboxone to wean you off heroin. We recommend you stay […]
My OxyContin Addiction Story
I was addicted to OxyContin for 7 years, but my story starts well before I ever touched a pill. I was 17 the first time I smoked chronic. It did something to me I’d never felt before. It freed me. Something in me had always been coiled, some gear wound too tight. It stopped my […]
What Addiction Is Really Like—My True-Life Recovery Story
On June 19th, 2018, I was able to tell my true-life recovery story on stage at the Moody Performance Hall thanks to an incredible opportunity from Oral Fixation and with the shrewd guidance of Nicole Stewart as my editor. The entire show, which featured many other performers in addition to myself, was based around a […]