Posts by donmiddletonp1

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…

In the past few weeks, we have been exploring various domains of post-traumatic growth (PTG). Our society is inundated with information regarding PTSD. Many books, counselors, medications, and non-traditional treatments offer hope to those willing to swipe their credit cards. While I don’t dismiss these treatments as ineffective, we often see people suffering from PTSD…

The Bible is full of stories where trauma and extreme hardship became the springboard for a life of new strength and power to move forward. The secularization of our society has led to these stories being moved to ancient myths rather than important examples of how God can use your weakness to develop new strengths.…

As a physician with over thirty years of experience, particularly the last seven spent working in a mental health facility, I have encountered countless stories of unimaginable trauma and the accompanying pain. A common thread among those in our care is the struggle to move past their trauma. The perceived injustice of their experiences lingers…

Because of my work in addiction, I have the opportunity to talk openly to many people who may have had exposure to religion as a child, but no longer participate in church. There are a variety of reasons for this, but the most honest answer I hear frequently is that they feel that Christians don’t…

In the current thinking of most people seeking to relieve themselves from the bondage of addiction, a common piece of conventional wisdom is that it is necessary for the person to get used to the idea of being “in recovery” for the rest of their lives. The definition of being in recovery is not written…

“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…