Posts by donmiddletonp1

We’ve been exploring different domains of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), a powerful framework for healing after trauma. Our culture is saturated with messages about PTSD. Books, counselors, medications, and alternative treatments promise relief, often at a high cost. While these can help, many people continue to suffer from PTSD for decades without true healing. One of…

The Bible is filled with stories of trauma and hardship becoming the foundation for new strength and power. Yet in today’s culture, these stories are often dismissed as ancient myths. In reality, God still uses weakness to develop new strength—and building personal strength in recovery is one of the clearest ways we see Post-Traumatic Growth…

When trauma leaves its mark, it often feels impossible to move past the pain. In my years as a physician—especially the last ten spent in a mental health facility—I’ve heard countless stories of suffering and injustice. A common thread runs through them: the struggle to move forward when life feels deeply unfair. I know this…

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit in at church—or even that you’re not really wanted there—you’re not alone. In my work in addiction, I hear this all the time. People tell me they grew up with some kind of religion, but when life got messy, they felt like the church didn’t want them…

Recovery from addiction is more than surviving—it’s about growing. In this post, we’ll explore how Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) reshapes the recovery journey, moving from simply being “in recovery” to flourishing in faith, resilience, and purpose. What “Being in Recovery” Usually Means in Addiction Recovery Most people who seek relief from the bondage of addiction often…

Many years ago, I recognized that I was unable to quit drinking on my own. I had heard that Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) worked for many people, so out of desperation, I went to a meeting. At that meeting, a man received his 30-year sobriety coin. I thought to myself, “Why are you still coming to…

“Wake up! Wake UP!” yells 5-year-old Tyrell, as he pulls at the sheets of his brother. “Its Christmas! Let’s go see!!” “It’s still dark. Go back to sleep!” Moans 10-year-old Jordan, suppressing some excitement in favor of a few more minutes in the warm bed. “Let’s go see if he came!” insists Tyrell, and his…

Mike screwed up his marriage in a huge way. After being introduced to sexual harm very early in his life, he mistakenly learned to use sexual content to soothe his anxiety. Since he grew up in a Christian house hold, and was now married to a Christian wife, he felt extraordinary shame about it, which…

When people enter recovery, their brains often are not functioning well. Their thinking is so clouded that they are sometimes diagnosed as delusional. The truth is, we all get confused from time to time, and small phrases of truth can help us navigate stormy waters. Support groups rely heavily on these sayings to penetrate cloudy…

In many meetings of AA, there is a scheduled reading (frequently toward the beginning of the meeting) of what are known as “The Promises.” To be more accurate, they are the 9th Step Promises, and many long-time attendees can recite them by heart. In short, they are a brief list of the many things a…