addiction | Alpha Chick

Guess Who’s In Recovery?

September 10, 2011 By Mal Duane

Recovery: verb – The act of regaining or saving something; returning to an original state or a gradual healing.

Because September is National Recovery Month, I started to think about how recovery is a part of all of our lives. I don’t feel it applies strictly to people suffering from an addiction. Everyone I can think of is involved in a type of recovery.

Most residents in the Northeast are still trying to recover from the recent hurricane, Irene. I know personally I was without power for three days. Because I carry an iPhone on a mitten clip, I must admit, I was in the throes of cyber withdrawal. Sadly, many people lost their homes and everything they owned. I am truly grateful that my three properties were not severely damaged. There was a lot of flooding around them, but I was spared. When I drive around and see the uprooted trees, the signs of water penetration, personal furnishings on the street and people dragging more to the curb, I am filled with gratitude for my good fortune.

There are so many people caught suddenly in a financial downturn and trying to recover. Unexpectedly they lost their jobs and are trying to get new ones. Many are barely holding on. Can we extend a helping hand to aid in their recovery?

What about all the women who are trying to recover from failed marriages or relationships and are consumed with guilt and self-loathing? Maybe the housewife who yelled at her husband today is trying to recover from the harsh words that were spoken between them? Let’s not leave out the young couple who may have torn each other up in a fit of jealousy. It goes on and on.

Then we have the truest definition of people trying to heal from an addiction: the abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs is prevalent, especially in tough times. The age of the addict is becoming younger and younger.

So, you see, we are all touched by the act of recovery in some form. It is not exclusive to one individual group. During the month of September we should contemplate more about what it means to recover and then look around us to see who we can lend a hand to. There may be someone closer than you think.

Live Faithfully,
Mal Duane

Mal Duane is a certified Personal Life Coach with more than 23 years in recovery from alcoholism, who has overcome devastating life challenges using the steps in the Alpha Chick Process. Her personal mission is to help women excel in all areas of their lives from business to personal relationships and attract that which they most desire, as she has, through a connection to the divine power within. Her book Alpha Chick, Five Steps for Moving from Pain to Power is coming in February 2012.

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Filed Under: Addictions, Blog, Recovery Tagged With: addiction, recovery

The Power of Choice – Reflections on Amy Winehouse

July 28, 2011 By Mal Duane

Amy Winehouse

Choice is an opportunity; it is a gift we are all given when we are created. However, over time we lose sight of the fact that we have the ability to choose. I think the loss starts when we are very young. We want to be good, we want to be accepted, we want to fit in. And so instead of asserting to choose, we compromise and go along with people or with the situation. Over time this compounds so that we barely recognize any longer that we have choice as an option. In short, it becomes so much easier if we don’t say no.

As we lose the power to choose, we can easily replace it with damaging bad habits. It is so easy to turn to something that comforts us and weakens our power even further. I suspect that this was part of the problem for Amy Winehouse. She lost her power of choice. She became tied to alcohol and drugs. No matter what rehab center they sent her to, she returned to the comfort of anesthetizing herself and drowning the voice she did not want to hear. The courage to choose a different path had been stripped away by all the sensationalism written about her psychological decline and frequent binges. They painted a gory picture of this poor, suffering soul who lost her grip on reality. This young woman had very little left to hang on to. Sadly something happened last Friday night to Amy Winehouse. We do not know what the official cause of her death was. I suspect it was related to making the wrong choice, probably the only one she thought she had.

Through my own experience with alcohol, I can relate to feeling like this. The addiction clouds your process to make decisions. If you or someone you know is suffering from an addiction, simply try to stop even for just one day. The fog will start to clear and you will see that you do have the power of choice. It was there all the time. Choice brings you joy!

I would love to hear your own inspiring stories of how you moved from pain to power by over coming addictions. Please leave your comments below. I really look forward to reading them.

Live Faithfully,

Mal Duane
Alpha Chick

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Filed Under: Addictions Tagged With: addiction, Amy Winehouse, Choice

Thank You Elizabeth Ann – A Farewell to Betty Ford

July 14, 2011 By Mal Duane

“My makeup wasn’t smeared, I wasn’t disheveled, I behaved politely,and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic?” ~Betty Ford

A woman that I admire passed away a few days ago. We heard the news on TV about the death of the amazing former First Lady, Betty Ford. She was recognized worldwide for her candor about her personal struggles with breast cancer, alcohol and addiction. Shortly after leaving the White House she admitted she was going into treatment for her addiction. The preconceived face of the female alcoholic changed that day, replaced by this beautiful, smart, energetic woman who famously behaved politely. She wasn’t a stumbling, rude, social misfit! It was a giant step for women struggling with alcoholism and addiction. Through her public admission, Mrs. Ford removed the social stigma of women’s addictions

She helped so many women by being open about her own battles. Mrs. Ford openly discussed her breast cancer and the required surgery with the press. She posed for photos shortly after her operation and was very candid about her mastectomy. This─ at a time when the word was barely whispered! A subject that had been taboo became news headlines and people were finally free to openly discuss their personal battles.

Mrs. Ford was a strong women’s advocate throughout her life. I loved reading an article about her recently that described her going to the Betty Ford clinic, walking into meetings and introducing herself: “Hi, I am Betty Ford; I am an alcoholic and an addict”. I can just imagine the reassurance that her presence gave the others in attendance.

Living life authentically, with grace and appreciation for what you have, is what Betty Ford showed us all how to do. Even when confronted with personal challenges, she openly shared her feelings of trepidation about them. I know that she has left an indelible mark in the recovery community and has advanced the treatment of addiction to where it is today. Thank you, Betty Ford.

If you’ve been moved by the life of Betty Ford or other inspirational women, famous or not, who have overcome addictions or other forms of abuse, please share your stories and reflections below! I look forward to reading them.

Live Faithfully,

Mal Duane
Alpha Chick