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7 Misconceptions About Recovery

Jun 25, 2020

Originally published at WorkIt Health When I think back to early recovery, the thought of reaching a month, 6 months, a year seemed insurmountable. I had so many images in my ...

Cooper’s Birth Story

Sep 13, 2019

I’ve been sitting on this for a few days, debating when to actually sit down and write Cooper’s birth story. I wanted to let the memories settle a little, but ...

Coming Full Circle

Aug 28, 2019

That January day we found out I was pregnant seems like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. Parts of that day and the emotions are so vivid, and others are ...

Best Laid Plans

Feb 16, 2019

So many of the greatest blessings in my life were not part of my grand plan. Yet every time something new comes along, something that was not part of The ...

Breaking isn’t permanent

Oct 18, 2018

This past winter, I wanted out of this life I’ve created. I wanted out of Alexandria, out of my job, out of my house, out of my relationship. I felt ...

Lessons Learned From My First Granite Games

Sep 13, 2018

A nasty ankle sprain, hella rope burn and pee all over the floor. Those items listed may not equate to a happy heart for most people, but for me they ...

Where We Are

Jul 27, 2018

I’ve never understood people who can use their imaginations. Doing so has never come naturally to me, even when I was little. In fact, my mom will sometimes tell me ...

5 Years Sober: What I Know For Sure

May 7, 2018

As I wound my car along the familiar route to work this morning, I felt the completely unprovoked tears welling up. I felt them start streaming down my face. I ...

‘Easy To Get To, Hard To Leave’

Feb 10, 2018

Anyone from the Alexandria area will recognize the title of this post because it's the city's tagline. And it's a damn good tagline because it's true. I was talking to ...

Discomfort and Intuition

Feb 4, 2018

The past few months have been some of the most uncomfortable of my life, with the exception of first getting sober. I’ve felt restless. Uncertain. Frustrated. Guilty. Confused. Sometimes these ...

When Recovery Isn’t The Most Important Thing

Dec 17, 2017

Sometimes I just forget. I honestly just forget that I’m sober. To some people, this may sound dangerous, almost like I’ve let my focus slip. But to me it’s a ...

Soul + Sweat: One Year In

Nov 30, 2017

“The bottom line is that I’m sick of my own bullshit, but I am also done drowning in it. So this is it. This is the change I’ve been waiting ...

A Week Without Facebook

Nov 23, 2017

You know those people who have enough willpower to decide they are done with something and actually be done with it? I’m not one of those people, which is why ...

Three Years In: What I Know About Loving And Being Loved

Nov 4, 2017

It’s hard to remember a life before Brandon – a life before our home, a life before our dogs, a life before our love. But that life existed once. Three ...

This is my “Me, too”

Oct 17, 2017

Me, too. Me, too. Me, too. Me, too. For the past few days, this phrase has been echoed time and time again as I scrolled through my Facebook feed. The ...

Sep 24, 2017

This was originally published at Addictioncenter.com Even though it is 2017, the concern of stigma is alive and well when it comes to addiction. Stigmas, or misconceptions or negative thoughts ...

But How Do You Do It?

Sep 14, 2017

If you follow me on any form of social media, you probably know that for the most part, my life is an open book. It started with talking about my ...

On Living Out Loud

Aug 25, 2017

I used to be shy. At kindergarten open house, I was so terrified of the newness surrounding me that I clung to my mom’s waist, pulling down her skirt in ...

What Being Shamed for My Sobriety on Social Media Taught Me

Aug 13, 2017

This was originally published at The Fix. I’ve always had a bad habit of checking my phone when I wake up in the middle of the night. So last Saturday, ...

I Refuse To Be Ashamed Of My Body

Jul 21, 2017

All my life, I have been in a battle with my body. Though I never suffered from an eating disorder or anything of that severity, my body-image has never been ...

Jul 9, 2017

This was originally published at The Fix. A few weeks ago, I stood in front of my fridge with an unopened bottle of beer in my hand, pondering what would ...

The Bad Workouts Matter, Too

Jun 27, 2017

I recently had one of those workouts. You know the kind. You go into it feeling good, feeling like you got this. Then you get your ass handed to you ...

Yes, Sometimes I Want To Drink—And That’s Okay

Jun 17, 2017

When people find out I am sober, they often ask questions—typically some variation of “But don’t you ever want to drink?” Questions are OK with me. I know people are ...

How Addiction And Depression Are Similar Yet Different

Jun 15, 2017

This was originally published at The Recovery Village For much of my life, I have struggled with depression. Depression is a frustrating disorder to be diagnosed with, as it is ...

A lesson from a little line

Jun 6, 2017

I’ve been bouncing back and forth between writing this post because in a strange way it feels more personal than anything else I’ve ever written — which is saying a lot. ...

Sharing a strong bond – recovery

May 31, 2017

This was originally published in the Echo Press A few weeks ago, I went on a trip to New York City with some of my favorite women in the world. ...

When You Give A Girl A Sister

May 10, 2017

Growing up, I never understood it when women I knew said their sister was their best friend. My sister, who is four years younger than me, was a pain in ...

Falling In Love With Camo and Cowboy Boots

May 4, 2017

I’ve never been a sucker for camo or cowboy boots -- in fact, I'd always strongly disliked both. But two and a half years ago, at a Caribou Coffee in ...

How drinking hid my anxiety and how I manage it sober

May 3, 2017

This was originally published at The Recovery Village. For as long as I can remember, anxiety has been a part of my life. In situations where most people wouldn’t bat ...

Defining Moments

Apr 22, 2017

Life has defining moments. And sometimes, right in the midst of them, time slows and that thought actually crosses my mind: “This is going to be a defining moment. So ...

The Skin I’m In

Apr 5, 2017

Those of you who follow my writing know that I am a pretty open book. There isn’t much I keep to myself about my struggles with alcoholism, with self-harm, with ...

There’s always a way back

Mar 30, 2017

I’ll preface this by saying this post is going to be a tough one to write, and a little all over the place. It’s never a good sign when I ...

When love changes

Mar 19, 2017

I’ve been thinking about my relationship lately. About how it’s no longer in the head-over-heels, heart-skip-a-beat phase it once was. About how he and I come home after a ...

5 Things I’ve Gained From Crossfit

Mar 16, 2017

Lately I’ve had quite a few people message me inquiring about Crossfit. They want to know what it’s like, how difficult it is, if they’ll be able to manage ...

It’s time for some truth-telling re: anxiety, depression and self-image

Feb 27, 2017

I’ve spent the majority of today feeling like I am crawling out of my own skin. I’ve been restless and bored, unable to concentrate well. I’m unsure why, but ...

5 Things I Learned From The Crossfit Open 17.1

Feb 25, 2017

Sidenote: For those who don’t know, the Open is a 5-week, worldwide competition. Workouts are released Thursday night, and athletes have a few days to do the judged workout and ...

Jan 12, 2017

This was originally published at The Fix. So you did it. You took the leap and decided it was time to give sobriety a try. Maybe you hit rock bottom, ...

Thank you, two thousand and sixteen

Dec 31, 2016

Dear two thousand and sixteen, I’ve been thinking about you lately -- thinking about how it seemed like nothing monumental happened these past 12 months, yet you were still a ...

5 Ways That Relationships Can Be Affected By Addiction

Dec 26, 2016

This was originally published at The Recovery Village. When it comes to love, men and women with substance use disorders can have a hard time maintaining romantic relationships—especially in periods ...

Sober Holidays: How To Stay Sober At Parties

Dec 8, 2016

This post was originally published at The Recovery Village. Though the holiday season isn’t traditionally centered around drinking, it may seem that way for those new to sobriety. Whether you’re ...

I finally got sick of my own bullshit

Dec 6, 2016

In the past few weeks, as we near a new year, I’ve had an Elizabeth Gilbert quote on my mind. It’s the one that goes, “I've never seen any life ...

4 Ways To Make The Most Out Of Your Time In Rehab

Nov 18, 2016

This post was originally published at The Recovery Village Ridgefield Let’s face it —even for those who go willingly, outpatient and inpatient rehab can be a scary, confusing, and uncertain ...

Nov 18, 2016

This post was originally published at The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake “The worst thing is watching someone drown and not being able to convince them that they can save ...

And yet

Nov 10, 2016

Yesterday morning, I was so excited to be part of this historical election. I woke up ready. I was one of many voters who had no doubts that we’d be ...

Oct 27, 2016

For many people on the path of sobriety, receiving treatment is the easy part. It’s what follows treatment that can often scare people enough to stray from sobriety and back ...

4 Consequences I Faced In Active Alcohol Addiction

Oct 27, 2016

This post was originally published at The Recovery Village. When in active alcohol addiction, many aspects of a person’s life become affected—and usually not in a positive way. Just because alcohol is ...

7 Ways To Respond When Someone Asks Why You’re Not Drinking

Oct 21, 2016

This post was originally published on The Fix. For many newly sober individuals, one of the hardest parts of sobriety is telling others why they are no longer drinking. Though ...

5 Reasons I’m Glad I Got Sober Young

Oct 21, 2016

This article was originally published on The Fix. At age 20, most people are in college, eagerly awaiting to turn 21 and be able to go to bars with their ...

5 AA Daily Affirmations That Helped Me Maintain Sobriety

Sep 28, 2016

This post was originally published at https://www.palmerlakerecovery.com/blog/daily-affirmations-sobriety/. As someone who has participated in 12-step meetings as part of my recovery, I’ve heard a plethora of AA’s daily affirmations. At first, they didn’t ...

5 Guidelines For Choosing A 12-Step Sponsor

Sep 15, 2016

Getting sober was never something I could have done on my own. But I didn’t always feel that way. In the beginning, when I wasn’t sure I actually wanted to ...

5 Guidelines For Talking To A Loved One In Recovery

Jul 31, 2016

This post was originally published on The Recovery Village. It can sometimes be awkward for individuals who are not in recovery themselves to broach the topic with a loved one ...

7 Guidelines To Being A Recovery Ally

Jul 12, 2016

This post originally appeared on the Orlando Recovery Center's website. Being an ally to someone in recovery is not always an easy task. Those who are not an addict themselves ...

5 Things Sobriety Taught Me About Vulnerability and Emotion

Jul 11, 2016

This post originally appeared on The Fix. When I first got sober three years ago, I never imagined I would tell even my closest friends, let alone write about my ...

On Being Pro-People

Jul 8, 2016

I’m going to start by admitting that I don’t know where this post is going. For once, I’m just writing, trying to make sense of this world and the events ...

What To Say To An Alcoholic: Active Addiction vs. Recovery

Jul 6, 2016

This post was originally published at The Recovery Village. Chances are that if you’re not an alcoholic yourself, it’s not easy to determine what to say to someone who struggles ...

7 Experiences That Indicate You May Have A Drinking Problem

Jul 4, 2016

This was originally published on The Fix. Before admitting I had a problem with alcohol, I spent a lot of time and energy denying that problem. Through meaningless hookups, nights ...

Why Do Alcoholics Blame Others?

Jun 28, 2016

This was originally published at https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/recovery-blog/why-alcoholics-blame-others/. When it comes to the blame game, alcoholics are professionals. We can blame anyone and anything but ourselves when it comes to the predicaments we ...

How I Avoided Relapse In 5 Situations

Jun 24, 2016

This post was originally published at https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/recovery-blog/avoid-relapse-five-situations/. Relapse. For many, it’s part of the long, winding journey to sobriety. In fact, DrugAbuse.gov states that 40 to 60 percent of addicts and alcoholics will ...

“This too shall pass”

May 19, 2016

Ahhh, you guys, I am so sorry for the lack of personal blog posts. Life has been coming at me full-force lately and I just literally have not had the ...

Sobriety and Spirituality

Mar 13, 2016

A few days ago, I complained because life was going too well. I made the comment that when things are going so perfectly, I feel like I lose any and ...

Getting back to where it began

Feb 22, 2016

At this moment, I'm straight up burnt out on writing. I used to think I'd never say that, but it's the truth. The only time I ever write anymore is ...

Feb 5, 2016

This post was originally published at www.cosmopolitan.com It's one month after my sophomore year of college. I've always been comfortable with public speaking, but not today. I'm petrified. I'm slouched ...

7 Reasons You Should Seek Addiction Treatment

Jan 16, 2016

This was originally published at www.orlandorecovery.com Often, an individual in active addiction is the last to realize or admit to having a problem. Family members or friends may notice and ...

My journey to sobriety

Dec 23, 2015

This is a column I wrote for the local paper I work at, the Echo Press. College binge-drinking isn’t always just binge-drinking – sometimes it’s alcoholism. I know because it ...

9 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I First Got Sober

Dec 4, 2015

This post was originally published at www.thefix.com The first couple weeks of sobriety were the scariest of my life. There are so many things I wish people had told me ...

3 Emotions To Expect On Your First Day Of Addiction Treatment

Dec 2, 2015

This post was originally published at http://www.orlandorecovery.com/. I still vividly remember my first day of treatment even though it was over two and a half years ago. I did outpatient treatment, ...

Nov 24, 2015

This post was originally published at http://www.orlandorecovery.com/. “I will literally never have fun again. My life is over. It’s ruined.” This was one of the first things to cross my mind ...

Nov 19, 2015

This post was originally published at http://www.orlandorecovery.com/. For many individuals, alcohol and drug abuse are often accompanied by other mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. In fact, about ...

Nov 18, 2015

This post was originally published at http://www.orlandorecovery.com/. It may sound like a funny comparison, but choosing the right rehabilitation center is a lot like choosing the right college. There are ...

Nov 18, 2015

This post was originally published at http://www.orlandorecovery.com/. When I first got sober, I started hearing all these little mantras about life and sobriety. At first many of them made me ...

5 Times I Didn’t Want To Stay Sober… But Why I Did Anyway

Oct 30, 2015

The majority of what I write has to do with the blessings that sobriety has brought to me, and most of the time that is truly how I feel about ...

Sep 18, 2015

AA, Anonymity, And The Digital Age: That Thing Bill W. Didn't Write About One of the first things I did while in treatment was post on Facebook and tell all ...

Sep 6, 2015

I just returned from my second ICYPAA (International Conference of Young People in AA) and happened to come across these words from a blog post I never published. I'm speaking ...

Jul 13, 2015

For the first time since getting sober, I am in a serious relationship. Actually, it's my first serious relationship in years, even before getting sober. Once sobriety became a priority ...

Jun 8, 2015

A lot of people will say that one of the hardest things about sobriety is learning how to have free time. The time that would typically be spent using and ...

May 17, 2015

I’ve been in love before. And, as a result, I’ve had my heart broken before. Both feelings have always been associated with another person, another living, breathing human being. But ...

May 15, 2015

When I first ventured into sobriety two years ago, a family friend, who is also sober, said to me: “You’ll be amazed how full your life can be.” At the ...

Mar 19, 2015

Three hundred and sixty-five days. Over one hundred posts. Numerous platforms. Thousands of shares. In honor of my first blogiversary (March 19, the day I was published on Thought Catalog ...

Feb 28, 2015

When I was young, I knew I would be many things when I “grew up.” I just never thought an alcoholic would be one of them. I never thought I’d ...

Feb 17, 2015

Everything always makes more sense in retrospect. I know that as much as the next person. Even so, I cringe thinking about how much trouble and heartache I could have ...

Jan 14, 2015

This post was originally published on thefix.com I'm 22, I've never consumed a legal drink, and I never plan to, for better and worse. Being in recovery at any age ...

Jan 2, 2015

This post was originally published at http://www.thefix.com/content/10-things-i-don%E2%80%99t-miss-about-drinking. When my parents forced me to get sober, I was convinced I would never be happy again. I didn’t think I would ever enjoy ...

Nov 29, 2014

Originally published at http://affectmagazine.com/2014/11/beth-alcoholic-why-im-thankful-to-be-sober-at-21/ It was 6am on May 7, 2013 when I forced my makeup-crusted eyes open and peered down to realize that I was wearing a faded pastel gown and ...

Nov 14, 2014

Originally published at http://www.thefix.com/content/young-sober-and-single-navigating-romance-without-booze. When people look at me, they don’t see an alcoholic. They see a content 22-year-old student-athlete with a 3.8 GPA, the editor-in-chief of the college newspaper, someone ...

Oct 27, 2014

I may not know if I want kids, but that doesn't mean I don't think about it sometimes. So many people my age are starting to have babies...it's hard not ...

Oct 16, 2014

Perspective. It all comes down to perspective. Choose a spot outside. Do nothing for ten minutes. Write about it. Twenty of us doing this same class exercise, yet twenty of ...

Oct 15, 2014

I consider myself a pretty happy, content person. Life is usually good. I have a loving family, incredible friends and attend an amazing institution with countless opportunities. I can’t find ...

Sep 11, 2014

I’ve always valued my alone time, but I also enjoy leading a relatively busy life. Unfortunately in the world of a communication major, this means alone time is rare – it ...

Aug 8, 2014

This may be the absolute best article I have ever read pertaining how to treat a sober friend: http://www.xojane.com/issues/how-not-to-be-a-dick-to-your-recovering-alcoholic-friend READ IT.

Aug 6, 2014

After browsing through the archives of my personal blog during the peak of my use (sophomore year of college), I realized something: I made so many damn excuses. Nothing was ...

Aug 3, 2014

He was never mine to care about, so letting him go shouldn’t be an issue. Right? Wrong. As usual, I have only myself to blame for this predicament. I knew ...

Jul 27, 2014

I know that in the past I have written about my treatment and recovery a few times, but always in a broad sense. I don’t know if it’s easier to ...

Jul 20, 2014

For 14 years, I identified myself as a soccer player. I played year-round on multiple teams, dedicated endless hours to practices and games, and thought I loved the sport. But ...

Jul 20, 2014

I've posted this in the past, but it remains one of my favorite posts about 20-something drinking problems. I can relate to so much, especially this passage: "I used to ...

Jul 18, 2014

Some beautiful writing from a fellow Thought Catalog writer about the realities of addiction: http://thoughtcatalog.com/laura-richardson/2014/07/363901/

Jul 11, 2014

The bend in the road is familiar. After years of driving here, it no longer takes any thought. I slowly direct my car into the driveway, my headlights landing on ...

Jun 25, 2014

There was a bonfire. Hookah. Green Apple Burnett’s. I wish I remembered more from the day that ended up altering the course of my life, but I don’t. It will ...

Jun 25, 2014

1. Recovery jargon. Words and phrases like “higher power,” “12 steps,” “Serenity prayer,” and “surrender” become part of your daily life. 2. Who your real friends are. These might be ...