My sobriety date is August 1st, 2023. During a recent visit, my parents brought a cake to celebrate my third year of continuous sobriety. Both they and Michael are proud of my persistence to remain sober. Every day, I think about my alcoholism. I have to, because this disease is cunning, baffling, and powerful. If…
Category: My BPD & HPD & Alcoholism
The Successful Conclusion To My Lifelong Therapeutic Journey
Mental Health Struggles & Alcoholism It all began for me in 1997 when I entered a 28-Day Treatment Program for binge/blackout drinking. Soon after, I participated in a Mental Health Day Treatment Program and started therapy at Avalon Sexual Assault Centre. During this time I was misdiagnosed with ADHD, DDNOS and PTSD. Years past as…
Am I Willing To Trust In God?
Last night during a Nova Scotia based Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Zoom Meeting that I attend on a somewhat regular basis, a member joined us from the UK. It was his first time to this meeting. When he shared, he had a calm knowing about him and radiated a spirituality that inspired me. He rhetorically asked:…
The Distinct Languages of AA, DBT & CPT
I had an Ah-Ha moment last night. I realized that there are the distinct languages of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). August 1st, 2023 – After decades of struggle, I reentered the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, accepted I am an alcoholic and embraced Step 1. Next, I dove…
Cognitive Processing Therapy – Understanding & Learning – The Life Skill Of Trust
Dreams Currently, I am a recovering alcoholic in a 12-Step Program with over 2 years of sobriety. This past week, I’ve had three separate dreams where I made the choice to drink. Another night this week, I had an awful nightmare where someone was trying to murder me. In the dream, I was terrified and…
Cognitive Processing Therapy – Themes – Safety & Trust & Trust Star
Information provided about Safety & Trust & Trust Star is from the CPT Week 8 Slide Presentation by Susan McDevitt, MSW/RSW – for the CPT 12-Week Group Sessions at Community Mental Health & Addictions (CMHA) Safety Beliefs About Myself Safety Beliefs About Others Trust Beliefs About Myself Self-trust involves the belief that people trust their…
Cognitive Processing Therapy – Levels Of Responsibility
Levels Of Responsibility In understanding trauma, my therapist explains Levels of Responsibility. This information helps me understand how as a child and young teenager, I am not responsible for a tragedy that resulted in a traumatic event for me. How my feelings of guilt as a result of this traumatic event are not a real…
Cognitive Processing Therapy – Thinking Patterns
The Tree of Faulty Core Beliefs My therapist explained The Tree of Faulty Core Beliefs to me. This tree represents the layers of our subconscious that contribute to negative thinking patterns (cognitive distortions) in our lives. The Faulty Core Identity is the “soil” that nourishes the seed of unhealthy beliefs, often formed during early childhood….